Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The appeal seeking service connection for left knee pain, joint pains, and headaches is dismissed.,The cervical spine disability (claimed as neck injury), bilateral elbow pain, and psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back/thoracolumbar spine condition and neck (claimed as musculoskeletal/neck/upper back/cervical spine) have been dismissed as moot because the conditions were granted in a September 2023 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral hip, and right big toe conditions as these disabilities are found to be etiologically related to his active-duty service.

The appeal for service connection for a neck condition, including claims of neck rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, is dismissed.

The Veteran's cervical strain, with associated radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, is granted effective from September 26, 2012. The Veteran also receives a disability rating of 20 percent for his cervical strain prior to October 12, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for endometriosis and cervical dysplasia have been denied. The VA has found no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the Veteran does not have a current disability related to her service. Her left wrist disability, LLE PN of the sciatic nerve, RLE PN of the sciatic nerve, and RLE PN of the femoral nerve are all granted with specific ratings.

The Board has denied the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for a neck disability, right ankle disability, and right foot disability due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for low back pain and a low back disorder, as well as for a cervical spine non-acute fracture of right posterior lamina with pain, need to be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to December 26, 2007, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine due to inadequate explanation of denial of higher evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, bilateral shoulder, right hip, and left foot disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Polymyalgia rheumatica, finding that the Veteran's auto-immune disease caused or aggravated his current neck condition.

The Board found that despite the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, he retained the ability to perform the physical and mental acts required by employment. Therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need to obtain a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical strain condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining STRs and providing medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a scar of the chin and lower lip, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, watery eyes, sleep disability, right collar bone pain, skin disability of the toenails (tinea unguium), skin disability claimed as a back rash due to an allergic reaction, chronic dizziness, erectile dysfunction, and chronic headache disability have been granted. The claims for service connection for these conditions are now considered resolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder to obtain additional medical opinions that address the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and assigned a 30 percent initial disability rating.,The Veteran's headaches are granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA examiner's opinions are inadequate, and an addendum medical opinion is needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that it is related to physical trauma experienced in his MOS as a Special Forces officer.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to establish a link between his current disabilities and service.,The Veteran was also denied an increased rating for duodenitis with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as there is no evidence showing severe symptoms that would warrant a higher rating.