Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches, hypertension, a cervical spine disability (claimed as chronic muscle tension), diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), and sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's left ankle deltoid ligament sprain has been granted a 20 percent disability evaluation, and no more. The cervical spine disorder and related issues have been remanded for further examination and determination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), a neck disability, osteoarthritis of the right elbow (now claimed as a right arm disability), and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was rated at 10 percent disabling, and his left ear hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

Your appeal seeking service connection for cervical spine, low back, and left shoulder disorders has been dismissed. The Board found that this was a duplicate appeal of the same rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome and whether the Veteran's neck pain is a sign or symptom of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness attributable to his Persian Gulf War service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of her service-connected cervical strain is dismissed. The cases for an initial compensable rating for her abdominal scar and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for her migraines are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for appropriate VA examinations to determine the current severity of the service-connected disabilities, including an estimate of range of motion lost due to pain and flare-ups.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple shoulder, elbow, neck, and hand disabilities as the evidence does not show any in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability was granted, effective January 28, 2015. The Board found that relevant service treatment records were added to the file after the February 2015 rating decision and used in the February 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine DDD disability from July 4, 2019 is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an increased rating for cervical strain due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to address his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, with specific attention to pain during range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis due to service connection as secondary to a service-connected right shoulder disability. The VA will provide new medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various spinal and peripheral neuropathy conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in September 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his cervical and lumbar spine conditions. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining further medical advice.

The Veteran's cervical strain with muscle spasm is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical strain and lumbar strain due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinions. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, but dismissed the appeals related to other conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to environmental factors during active military service. Service connection was also granted for a bilateral hip condition, but this issue is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right foot disability, left foot disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, neck disability, sinusitis, and type II diabetes mellitus, to obtain private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, thus granting service connection for this condition.