Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and thoracolumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy disabilities secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's claims for headaches and cervical strain are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the severity, frequency, and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various spinal and extremity conditions due to procedural issues. Further development is needed, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate examinations and opinions. The Veteran's flare-ups need to be addressed for his cervical spine disability, and the relationship between his bilateral knee disabilities and service needs to be clarified.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine strain, right shoulder strain, and left knee injury as they were not adequately addressed in the previous examinations due to inadequate consideration of flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for neck disability, finger conditions of the right and left hands, and a left arm disability are being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and failure to obtain VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and increased ratings for thoracic strain and cervical strain with degenerative joint disease have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his bilateral shoulder conditions and cervical spine disability. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of urinary disability, cervical spine disability, facial disfigurement, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective July 11, 2018. A TDIU is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected PTSD, cervical intervertebral disc syndrome, and tinnitus. As a result, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating in excess of 70 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and left hip disability due to potential exposure to burn pits during active duty in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability and whether it is secondary to her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits, finding that he did not have an employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities and was therefore not in need of rehabilitation.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records and medical opinions needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and provide an opinion on the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral sprain and degenerative disc disease (back disability) as well as cervical strain (neck disability), finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active-duty service, including his military flight time.