Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back condition, cervical spine condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral ankle conditions, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also found that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective July 25, 2017. The other conditions have had their ratings adjusted or granted.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, left hand condition, right hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck disability, and right ankle condition. The new evidence received since the last denial is relevant to an in-service event that the Veteran believes caused his disabilities and a nexus between service and the disabilities.

The Veteran's back and cervical spine disabilities have been granted a rating of 20 percent from September 11, 2008, to September 30, 2019.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claims include neck, left knee, low back, bilateral foot, foot rash, sinus/allergy, and lung disabilities.

The Veteran's effective dates for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status are denied as they do not meet the criteria set forth in the applicable regulations.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability prior to April 12, 2021, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to the untimely filing of his VA Form 9, which was more than 60 days after the issuance of the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions, finding that the current disabilities are related to in-service injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The VA medical opinions provided negative nexus opinions, concluding that the disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional adjudication due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the VA did not obtain necessary medical opinions as requested in prior remands and thus, another remand is needed to address the service connection claims for various orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right ring finger disability, service connection for cervical spine/upper back disability, and low back disability are remanded due to failure to reschedule VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for cervical stenosis with degenerative arthritis should be remanded to allow the AOJ to consider additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected cervical spine disability was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation than 20 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for the period from October 28, 2016 to December 11, 2023.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative joint disease is denied for the period from December 12, 2023.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities are service-connected, with the benefit of doubt favoring the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been reopened, but the Board has not made a final determination on whether these claims are granted. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate claims are granted effective from February 28, 2018. The Board also found that a separate thoracolumbar spine disorder is not service-connected.