Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions based on the absence of treatment records post-service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric condition, bilateral hearing loss, and neck and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been granted. The claim for service connection for the thoracolumbar spine disability remains pending due to remand.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, but the claims for left shoulder and cervical spine conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, cervical spine, and left hand disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that led to current disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition, claimed as C5-C7 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, is granted service connection. The appeal for increased rating of coronary artery disease remains pending. Service connection for lymph node and gall bladder conditions due to herbicide exposure is remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for his cervical spine disability has been remanded due to the failure to schedule an examination. The VA is instructed to reschedule the examination and obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a neck injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current neck disability and his active duty service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an initial compensable rating for a scar of the cervical spine, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities were found to not meet the criteria for increased ratings, with the most severe forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being limited to 40 degrees and that of the cervical spine limited to 20 degrees.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded the remaining issues on appeal, including a TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a neck disability due to insufficient opinion regarding its etiology. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stenosis (lower back disability) has been denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder (including insomnia and sleep apnea), a cervical spine disability, and a respiratory disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a neck disability has been dismissed due to his death before he could appear at a Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 12, 2021 to May 11, 2022.

The Veteran's PTSD, cervical strain, left upper and lower extremity radiculopathies, and tension headaches have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also assigned a 30% rating for his tension headaches.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain, right shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and left elbow disorder have all been granted service connection with the appropriate ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to errors in obtaining and associating medical records, as well as failing to provide a VA examination for some of the conditions. The claims will be reconsidered upon completion of these directives.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied service connection for back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and/or sciatica, left hip disability, right hip disability, and neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a forehead scar, as a residual of a head injury. The issues of neck and back disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.