Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, including parachute jumps.

The Veteran was granted TDIU effective June 1, 2019. The Board finds that the AOJ failed to consider her specific job requirements and limitations caused by service-connected disabilities prior to May 1, 2019. Therefore, a remand is necessary for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for cervical spine, low back, left knee, sinusitis, and insomnia disabilities due to new and relevant evidence. The appeals are remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and as a result, the Board dismissed the issues regarding cervical spine disability and right shoulder disability with numbness in the right arm.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current right ankle LCL sprain, cervical strain, and low back disability. The claims are currently pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of cervical stenosis and right upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that the claims were not filed before the January 2018 decision became final.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical and left shoulder conditions due to a duty to assist error. The VA must obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for tension headaches and visual field defect associated with facial nerve palsy have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, back disorder, elbow disorders, wrist disorders, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, ankle disorders, and foot disorders. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and will be reconsidered by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a right rib fracture and dermatophytosis (claimed as eczema) have been granted. Claims for hyperlipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, posttraumatic stress disorder, alopecia totalis, iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, cervical spine disability, voiding dysfunction, benign neoplasm of the skin, right ankle disability, right elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability have been denied. The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity secondary to service-connected spinal stenosis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The issues include secondary service connection for cervical spine disability, separate ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU based on his lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he did not meet the durational requirement for a total disability rating in existence during his lifetime.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease, as well as left and right shoulder disabilities manifested by pain, popping, and limitation of motion. Service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease, cervical spine. The VA examiner will need to provide a thorough opinion considering all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for cervical and lumbar radiculopathy have been denied as the earliest date of claim is March 22, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for tardive dyskinesia and a cervical spine disability, as no valid appeal was filed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or chronic disease during service, and the condition was not shown to be related to military service.,The case has been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus. The AOJ should obtain additional medical opinions to determine if the preexisting condition worsened during service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions concerning secondary service connection for the Veteran's neck disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability and a left arm disability are being remanded.