Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board denied the claim as the appellant is not recognized as a child of the Veteran for VA death pension benefits due to his step-grandchild status, and he does not meet the criteria for being permanently incapable of self-support at age 18.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions obtained are insufficient to make a decision on the Veteran's claims. The case is therefore being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection regarding a cervical disability and urethritis has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing their appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher disability rating and TDIU due to duty to assist errors in the initial May 2020 rating decision that granted service connection for a cervical spine disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion on the severity of the appellant's cervical spine disabilities during the period on appeal, addressing functional limitations and dates of improvement or worsening.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were addressed in a September 2020 rating decision, which granted the requested effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression associated with GERD with H. Pylori status post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with residual bloating, flatulence, and inability to vomit, to include IBS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will obtain additional opinions from clinicians who have not previously examined or provided an opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbago and cervicalgia are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.,New evidence has been submitted, but it does not meet the criteria for readjudication of the claim for short term memory loss with lack of concentration.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his cervical spine condition and military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and left knee condition due to a lack of current diagnoses. The claims for musculoskeletal-neck/upper back (cervical spine), nerve paralysis, and degenerative arthritis of the back are remanded as there were no medical opinions provided regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence, including inadequate opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis status post ACL repair.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The Board finds the Veteran's accounts credible and grants service connection for his tinnitus. Service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Service connection for rhinitis and neck disability claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, neck disability, and back disability are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's right knee and cervical spine conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hip osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are granted as service-connected, with a 40% rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy effective March 20, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were addressed in a September 2020 rating decision, which granted the requested effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression associated with GERD with H. Pylori status post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with residual bloating, flatulence, and inability to vomit, to include IBS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a disability manifested by tremors, including cervical dystonia. The appeal is based on presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during military service.

The rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, lumbar spondylosis, and intervertebral disc syndrome was restored to 20 percent effective September 17, 2019.,A 30 percent rating for cervical spine strain with degenerative endplate changes at C4-C7 is granted effective May 9, 2019.,A 30 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted effective May 9, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and tension headaches due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically missing private treatment records from chiropractors and a recent VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failure to obtain service treatment and personnel records, and a lack of a VA examination. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is being reviewed for its relationship to military service.