Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for treatment purposes under Chapter 17, Title 38 of the United States Code for vision loss, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, tachycardia, cervicalgia, and lumbago.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for the VA to obtain and associate complete treatment records from April 2017 at the Providence VA Medical Center, as this is central to his claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to March 12, 2021. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU from March 12, 2021 have been met.

The Veteran's appeal of asthma and anxiety was withdrawn.,The Veteran's skin rash of the groin, CFS, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral strain claims were granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining private records and providing an addendum opinion regarding neck flareups.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions. The IBS, overactive bladder disability, and hearing loss disability are being remanded as they may be related to toxic exposure from service. Service connection is granted for Type II diabetes mellitus under the PACT Act.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, depression, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatic neuropathy of the left and right legs, as well as left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for clarification of the standard used in assessing secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, right and left upper extremities, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of her appeal by her representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability. The claim will be reconsidered with a new medical opinion addressing the in-service events and findings.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hand disorder due to missing service treatment records and lack of adequate VA examinations. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) upon readjudication.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder and arm, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and cataracts disabilities are being remanded for additional development to address the adequacy of the medical opinions provided.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder and arm, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and cataracts disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are granted with an effective date of March 20, 2013.,It was determined that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU from March 20, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a detailed examination.

The Veteran's cervical strain and right hip external coxa saltans have been granted service connection, with the cervical strain receiving a grant of service connection and the right hip limited flexion receiving an initial 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for scoliosis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis, and cervical strain based on the Veteran's contention that these conditions were aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's generalized headaches are now rated at a 30 percent evaluation for the entire appeal period.,The cervical disability claim is remanded due to inadequate examination.

Service connection for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted.,The issue of service connection for sinusitis is dismissed as moot due to the VA RO's independent grant prior to the Board decision.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression) are remanded.