Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's death was attributed to myocardial infarction and cardiac insufficiency. The VA examiner opined that the service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, but there is a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depression, have rendered him unemployable due to his inability to work due to his psychiatric symptoms and physical impairments. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and migraines are all remanded for further examination and opinion due to the need for a VA examination and medical nexus opinion regarding toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's period of service from March 4, 2013 to August 5, 2014 is dishonorable for VA purposes and remanded for further review. The Veteran's claims for cervical strain and left foot disorder are also remanded due to new evidence submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right shoulder, cervical spine, and thoracic spine disabilities due to a finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1992 rating decision.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings related to the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, right shin splints, chronic bronchitis, and neck condition due to inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic risk activities is also being requested.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, cervical strain, and spondylolisthesis. These conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his cervical spine and right shoulder disability are dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease is also dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxious distress with panic attacks, left clavicle fracture residuals, cervical strain, left knee tendinopathy, and left ankle sprain, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and sustain substantially gainful employment, as he has reported working as an independent insurance agent.

The Board dismissed the appeal concerning three issues of service connection for cervical spine condition, pain and numbness in the bilateral shoulders, and lumbar spine condition due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Veteran's cervical spine stenosis with degenerative arthritis is rated at 30 percent for the period prior to May 28, 2019 and denied for a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted with an effective date of September 19, 2014. The earlier effective dates requested are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with chronic constipation and cervical spine degenerative disc disease were denied. The GERD condition is currently rated at 10 percent, while the cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease and erectile dysfunction are found to be proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected complex regional pain syndrome, residuals of fractured right wrist.,The Veteran's multilevel cervical spondyloarthropathy is not found to be secondary to his service-connected condition. The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not found to be related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from March 19, 2020 to October 4, 2022 is granted as he meets the schedular criteria for a combined rating of 70 percent due to multiple service-connected disabilities. The earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) eligibility remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, headaches, and bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain has been dismissed, and the claim for bilateral knee condition is remanded.