Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine (neck) disorder.

The appeal regarding the claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis is granted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been granted. The cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy claims are remanded due to the need for further examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, as her current medical records do not provide sufficient information.

The claim for residuals of a head injury was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim for psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been reopened based on the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for cervical degenerative disc disease with arthritis, tinnitus, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of osteoarthritis of the left and right hips, left and right knee conditions, and DDD of the cervical spine as secondary to lumbosacral degenerative disease were denied.,PTSD was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's current neck disabilities are attributed to natural aging processes.,The issue of service connection for a back disability remains pending as additional information regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) is needed, along with medical clarification on whether his congenital conditions are developmental defects or diseases.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected.,Hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to hepatitis C.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted secondary to service-connected conditions. The cervical spine condition is granted a 20% rating from March 25, 2019 onwards and the radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was granted a 20% rating from May 22, 2012 through February 26, 2018. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is denied in excess of 40% after February 27, 2018.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for arthritis was denied.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the claims for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical dysplasia and CIN, including a lack of physical examination. The Veteran contends that her conditions are related to a D&C procedure during service and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination in determining the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess his current condition and any additional functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for cervical strain and headaches, mixed type associated with traumatic brain injury have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and cervical spine disability due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service treatment records from various ships and training centers are needed.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia were granted service connection. The claims for right and left ankle disabilities, neck disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied.

The Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for cervical spine disorder and right elbow disorder were not successful. His increased rating claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right fifth finger disability were also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are granted with a 100% rating, effective prior to December 20, 2017. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted at a 100% rating, but only prior to that date.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to service connection for left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities. The reasons are that the VA opinions provided were inadequate due to inaccurate facts or lack of consideration of the lay and medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is not afforded an examination or opinion on whether he suffered from head injuries, right-hand, right-foot, low back, cervical spine, bilateral leg, and hip disabilities during service.