Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient competent medical evidence and a need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were remanded due to the need for additional development. The effective dates for TDIU and DEA remain at December 13, 2019.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, migraines including migraine variants, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service connected.,Reasoning for the cervical spine disability: The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability had onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims and TDIU. The VA will schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back, neck, and hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right leg amputation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various psoriatic arthritis disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional verification of his National Guard and Air Force Reserve service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted an effective date of October 30, 2012 for the award of a TDIU and DEA benefits due to new and material evidence received within one year of the April 2013 rating decision.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment at that time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shin splints was denied due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of this condition.

The Veteran's ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and cervical spine disability were restored to their previous levels, effective March 29, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder conditions, all of which are related to her military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine if there is a medical nexus between an in-service neck injury and the current diagnosis of a neck disability.

The appeal as to entitlement to service connection for an anxiety disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's right shoulder disability and related conditions are granted, but the rating for the right shoulder disability remains remanded.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, feet, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, skin, and anxiety, depression, PTSD are dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and rating issues, including anxiety with PTSD and depression, cervical spine disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and a proposed reduction in the evaluation of low back pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance for the period of time on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Traumatic Brain Injury, Cervical Spine Disability, and Back Disability have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,For the Traumatic Brain Injury claim, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or treatment related to this condition during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a cervical spine condition due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and cervicalgia, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with insomnia. The Veteran's skin conditions are currently rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no credible evidence to establish a causal relationship between his current cervical spine condition and an in-service injury. The Board noted that the Veteran's STRs were negative for any cervical/neck complaints or clinical findings associated with the 1990 slip-and-fall accident.