Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting cervical spine disorder did not increase in severity during his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to TBI, cervical spine disorder, right leg disorder, left knee disorder, right thumb disorder, left thumb disorder, deviated septum with post-surgery complications, sleep disorder, and right knee disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims remain denied as there is no legal basis for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 23, 2010 for the Veteran's entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision is based on the fact that the Veteran was entitled to a combined rating of at least 70 percent with a single disability rated at 40 percent or more since December 23, 2010, and his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for scleroderma, neck disability, and rheumatoid arthritis due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and neck disability, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for an updated VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his condition.,The issue of service connection for peripheral radiculopathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities is being remanded due to inadequate previous VA examination results.,An additional medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's major depressive disorder, as well as whether it is aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded because there is evidence suggesting a link to military service or a service-connected disability.,A VA examination in conjunction with this claim is needed due to the Veteran's cervical spine disability possibly having been caused by his active service.,The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for an additional VA examination and opinion regarding its etiology, given conflicting evidence from different medical professionals.,Service connection for high blood pressure is being remanded because it has not yet been adjudicated due to pending SSA benefits determination.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are being remanded as well.,Service connection for hypercholesterolemia is being remanded, with a request for additional evidence from Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding disability benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of neck disability, left arm pain, left shoulder pain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. Specifically, a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability, determine whether his cervical strain disability was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hamstring disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 18, 2014 for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia was denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for fibromyalgia.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for fibromyalgia was denied as his disability is already at its highest possible rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding its etiology and relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in March 2017 was inadequate and requires an addendum opinion to address causation, aggravation, and quantification of any aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability and a compensable rating for tension headaches due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating of his now service-connected cervical spine disorder is no longer before the Board. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination addressing the combined effects and impairment resulting from his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, left knee disability, and sinus passage injury. The claim for sleep apnea was also remanded.,An earlier effective date of February 3, 2010 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with spondylosis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine have been rated at 20 percent each since October 1, 2009. The Board has found that these ratings are not appropriate due to functional impairment.

Service connection is granted for intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and neuropathy of the right upper extremity.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions are associated with his current disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The reasons are that there is insufficient evidence to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was denied because the evidence did not show that her condition was incurred in service and due to willful misconduct.,Service connection for right shoulder, right elbow, and neck disabilities were also denied as there is no objective medical link between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding their onset during service.

The Board has denied service connection for the left shoulder disability due to a bar on benefits based on the Veteran's other than honorable discharge. The back and neck disabilities are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD are denied due to lack of diagnosed conditions during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability is denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to this condition.,The Veteran's claims for right ankle and left ankle disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to these conditions.