Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 20 percent since January 31, 2016. The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy has not been found to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to grant a rating in excess of 100 percent for PTSD and denied entitlement to a temporary total evaluation due to treatment requiring convalescence. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical strain with degenerative joint disease, lumbar back pain with degenerative changes, left upper extremity numbness and pain, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as the evidence does not support a nexus to active service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his claims for service connection for chronic pain syndrome, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine posttraumatic osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with posttraumatic lumbar osteoarthritis has been withdrawn. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.,The Veteran's appeal regarding his claims for service connection for migraines has also been withdrawn. His petition to reopen his claims for cervical spine posttraumatic osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with posttraumatic lumbar osteoarthritis have been granted, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and migraines remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected neck disability was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent, effective May 9, 2019. The low back disability received a grant of increased rating to 40 percent, effective the entire period on appeal.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has remanded these issues due to errors in the Board’s decision-making process.,The CAVC found that the Board failed to account for the Veteran's combat status and did not make a finding regarding whether his lay statements were sufficient to establish service connection for his cervical spine disability. The CAVC also noted that the delay in diagnosis of his GERD symptoms after service was unclear.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and arthritis of the left shoulder as subsequent manifestations of already service-connected arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his cervical radiculopathy and migraines.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except PTSD was dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran had been diagnosed with PTSD and supported by medical and lay evidence, thus granting service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's cervical spine disability is related to her active duty service, including wearing heavy gear and a motor vehicle accident. The examiner will need to provide an opinion on the etiology of the disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding medical records. The issues of rating his cervical spine disorder and entitlement to a temporary total rating due to convalescence are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her PTSD and fibromyalgia, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records. The issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also being remanded due to their inextricability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied, and service connection for surgical neck scars associated with cervical spine DDD was granted but only up to June 30, 2014. The Veteran’s claim for a higher rating for his stellate scar of the occipital area of the scalp is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents in service. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for further development.

The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease (DJD) effective December 19, 2017 was improper, and the 20 percent rating is restored.,Entitlement to a rating more than 10 percent for cervical spine DJD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active or reserve service.,Service connection was also denied for right knee disability as there is no evidence of ankylosis, nonunion, dislocation, or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been granted service connection.,Other issues, including those related to the lumbar spine, left leg sciatica, left ankle strain, psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and bilateral foot condition, are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea and neck disability claims should be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to incomplete records, unclear findings from a previous examination, and failure to address the entire appeal period.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, dermatological disabilities of the hands, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial.