Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, right hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities. Additionally, the Board has also granted service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and Gulf War Illness (GWI) based on new evidence received since the last decision.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before any of the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining relevant treatment records and scheduling medical examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical strain, TBI, lumbar condition, and left knee injury due to insufficient evidence.,Further medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and headache disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The reasons include inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for cervical strain and valvular heart disease, as well as claims of service connection for radiculopathy in both upper and lower extremities. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are not wholly adequate and have not addressed all relevant evidence, including private examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected conditions may warrant higher or separate ratings.

The Veteran's testicular cancer is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to burn pits and other toxins during his Southwest Asia deployment. The issues of service connection for neck disability, memory loss, and varicose veins are remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board finds a remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations for the remaining issues.,Service connection for right shoulder joint pain, right hand chronic pain (claimed as arthritis and psoriatic arthritis), right knee chronic pain (claimed as arthritis and psoriatic arthritis), and right ankle chronic pain (claimed as arthritis and psoriatic arthritis) are remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right and left upper extremity peripheral nerve, right and left extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and left foot disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they were incurred during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of ingrown toenails, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a neck disability as the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings and effective dates due to insufficient evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to additional evidence being received since the last SSOC in November 2020. The AOJ will review this new evidence before the case is reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, residuals of a groin injury, and erectile dysfunction. The conditions are deemed to be causally related to in-service events.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate previous examinations and the need for retrospective findings that fully satisfy the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. The appeals for increased evaluations and earlier effective date were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to October 3, 2018 or on and after December 5, 2023. The Board granted a 40 percent rating from October 3, 2018 to December 5, 2023 for the low back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a spine disability, including both thoracolumbar and cervical strain conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for bilateral leg and hand disabilities.,There is no evidence of a chronic disability related to the Veteran's in-service fall injury.