Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date of the 70% rating for persistent depressive disorder was granted.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and benign nerve sheath mass on right neck, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current disability levels.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her conditions, specifically related to periods of active duty and reserve service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service, including when he injured his left shoulder in service, and whether it is due or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The decision also denied service connection for OSA and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being reviewed again as it may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain and cervical spine degenerative joint disease due to incomplete medical records and need for new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings and effective dates for various disabilities remains pending due to the AOJ not yet readjudicating the claims in the modernized review system (AMA).,Issues related to left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, lumbosacral strain with DJD, cervical strain with DJD, and tinnitus are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and neck disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the March 2022 rating decision. The Veteran is required to be afforded new VA examinations with adequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, bilateral elbow lateral epicondylitis, and bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are all granted as service-connected. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to hypertension, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and chronic kidney condition.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's cervical spondylosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran's May 2023 VA Form 10182 was not timely filed and no good cause for extension has been presented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been dismissed as moot because the benefit was already granted in a prior decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for abdominal aortic aneurysm, lumbar spine disability (with lumbago), and cervical spine disability with stenosis. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were caused by U.S. Army service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a failure to obtain an updated line of duty determination considering the evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was not received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and bilateral ear disabilities. The claim for bilateral ear disability other than hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo is readjudicated as having been supported by new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, neck disability (claimed as neck pain), and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, seizure disorder, and related secondary service connection issues due to inadequate development of evidence and lack of adequate rationale in medical opinions.