Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine pain and a left elbow disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, migraines, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and corneal scar, right eye (right eye disability) have been denied.,The earliest effective dates available under the applicable law for these awards are February 11, 2019, for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, and migraine headaches; January 22, 2014, for corneal scar, right eye (right eye disability).

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final December 2015 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are denied as there is no current disability at any point during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to a lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a cervical spine condition due to errors in decision-making and insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner. The Veteran's testimony indicates other potential conditions may have been present during service, necessitating further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness has been granted due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for cervical spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis, as well as lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and facet hypertrophy, both of which are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected right foot and left foot cold injury residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, and right hip tendinosis and bursitis, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with an increased rating for major depressive disorder to 100 percent and service connection for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity effective March 9, 2023.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological disabilities and tendon rupture.

Service connection for bilateral feet pain to include flat feet, a cervical spine/neck disability, a low back disability, a left shoulder disability, diverticulosis, and hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand several claims due to inadequate examinations and missing evidence. The Veteran's migraine headaches, cervical spine strain, lumbosacral strain, and obstructive sleep apnea are all being reviewed further.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and duty-to-assist errors. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for a VA examination, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires an opinion on the nature of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea disability was granted a rating of more than 50 percent from January 31, 2020 to February 7, 2021. The thoracolumbar spine disability received a 40 percent rating during the same period and the cervical spine disability was denied a higher rating. TDIU was granted effective January 31, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence and failure to consider updated VA treatment records, as well as the need for an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The decision is based on direct service connection due to evidence of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disability and aortic aneurysm due to errors in the duty to assist. The Veteran's lay statements and combat experience must be considered, and opinions are needed regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder and thoracic spine disorder, finding that these conditions are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

An effective date of February 27, 2018, is granted for the award of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.,From February 27, 2018, an initial rating of 30 percent for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is granted.