Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of February 4, 2021, based on his service-connected disabilities. His combined disability rating at that time was 70 percent.

The Veteran's left hip arthroplasty, cervical disc bulge C5-6 with degenerative joint disease, LUE radiculopathy, herniated nucleus pulposus, and LLE radiculopathy sciatic nerve have been granted effective as of February 24, 2021.

The Veteran's accrued benefits claim was granted, and the appellant is now entitled to nonservice-connected burial benefits due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disk disease was denied.,Service connection was granted for right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy as associated neurologic abnormalities of the service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as they have withdrawn the appeal seeking increased ratings and service connection for various conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, cervical degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, left hip strain, and right hip strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the AOJ granted service connection for cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities in a February 2023 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including dyslipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, right hip and left hip disabilities, bilateral foot disabilities, right ankle and left ankle disabilities, right knee and left knee disabilities, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The decision is based on the absence of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's initial ratings for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities prior to April 11, 2022 are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right shoulder conditions, eye condition, throat condition, neck disability, low back disability, lower extremity disabilities, right-hand condition with numbness, migraines, and thyroid disease/cancer. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link to service.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied as there is no persuasive medical evidence linking the conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's IBS with constipation is granted service connection due to it being presumed to have been incurred during her Persian Gulf service. The claim for cervical dysplasia is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a sleep disorder, lung disability (including pneumonia, bronchitis, and COPD), neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral foot disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, which the Board found to be a principal cause of death. Therefore, DIC benefits are granted for the cause of death. The appeal for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the claims for pes planus, cervical spine condition, low back condition, and sinus disability due to duty-to-assist errors that occurred prior to the March 2021 rating decision on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, cervical strain rating, and carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his cervical spine disability because it was a freestanding claim and not based on a CUE in the original decision.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee meniscal tear, lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease (lumbar spine disability), and cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the Veteran's claims regarding his lumbar spine, cervical spine, left forearm, and left elbow disorders. The Veteran is required to provide any private chiropractic treatment records.