Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim, were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and its relationship to service, particularly as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability, neck disability, and low back disability due to inadequate VA examination in May 2018. The Veteran's current disabilities are alleged to be related to her active service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no credible continuity of symptoms or medical nexus.

The Veteran's cervical spine and upper extremity radicular groups have been granted increased evaluations, with the TDIU status confirmed. The cervical spine condition has resulted in multiple evaluations based on different time periods.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and PTSD have been granted service connection, but the left shoulder condition has a 30% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as of April 15, 2010. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and degenerative joint disease of the entire body were not shown to be related to his military service.,There is no evidence of asbestosis or any related lung disorder in the Veteran’s records. The claim for asbestosis was denied.,Periodontal disease was already service-connected, so a new claim for it was denied.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle edema was not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied as his combined service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headache disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and total disability rating due to unemployability prior to January 27, 2017. The Board will address these issues for the purpose of ensuring the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) along with information about the process for perfecting an appeal as to those issues if the Veteran so desires.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for recognition of J.E.R. as a helpless child of a Veteran on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18 due to lack of timely filing of a Substantive Appeal. The appeals for service connection for cervical spine disability and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as they are reflected in the disability ratings assigned.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to service-connected left knee and/or lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions. The TDIU claim was granted from July 2, 2010 to July 8, 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The claim for cervical spine disability is granted, while the claim for left lower extremity neuropathy is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis, right knee arthralgia, heart murmur, and bilateral ankle disorder as these issues were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety/depression) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and back injuries have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and need for further medical examinations. The issues include knee, cervical spine, upper back, foot, IBS, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's back and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The cervical spine disability is denied.