Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a definitive opinion and potential missing records. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain relevant records from his incarceration.

The Board has determined that additional medical records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) are needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims for service connection. The AOJ must ensure that the examiner’s nexus opinions correspond with the examination report of the joint being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper back/neck disability was denied in October 2007 due to lack of diagnosis and in-service event or injury. The Board has now reopened the claim based on new evidence, but remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disability and left hand and arm disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused his current conditions. The Board also found insufficient medical opinion to support a secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain and lumbar spine strain have been rated based on their specific disabilities, with the highest ratings possible under current VA guidelines. The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective October 28, 2016.,For cervical spine strain prior to September 14, 2016, the Veteran's disability level does not warrant an increased rating as there are no treatment notes supporting higher levels of disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected thoracolumbar disability (claimed as lumbar strain) is remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The issue of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, secondary to the thoracolumbar disability, is also referred back to the RO.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is found to be related to his active military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The Veteran's left shoulder, cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disabilities are all being reviewed again as they may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as associated radiculopathies of the sciatic and femoral nerves, are not rated higher than 10 percent prior to May 22, 2014. The issues related to these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that these conditions are related to injuries sustained during active service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted service connection as aggravated by service. The right and left shoulder disabilities were denied, and the Veteran's cervical strain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with muscle spasm are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for left shoulder injury, neck disability, and back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to his military occupation as a welder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, neck disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to procedural issues and the need for further development of his service records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar stenosis with DDD and degenerative changes to cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current cervical spine condition is related to service, including his in-service injuries and assault.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities related to his shoulders, cervical spine, and knee have not been rated appropriately. The Board has ordered remand for further examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's back and neck disabilities have also been remanded for further examination and opinion.