Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection, with the Board finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorders, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, COPD, GERD, gastroparesis, diverticulosis, rhinitis, OSA, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder have been granted. The claims are based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to noise during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be causally related to in-service events, injuries, or diseases. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, lumbar arthropathy (lower back), numbness of chin and mouth, cervical radiculopathy, left, cervical radiculopathy, right, right lower lumbar radiculopathy, and left lower lumbar radiculopathy as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in writing.

The Veteran's claimed anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability are not related to his military service.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection of lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine condition and left shoulder strain, but denied right shoulder strain.,Service connection is established for these conditions on the basis of direct evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for hemorrhoids has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left hip, and right hip. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to have originated during service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and other service-connected conditions have been granted. Claims for tension headaches, costochondritis, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bilateral shoulder disorders, ED, keloids, left hip disorder, ulcers, vision disorder, bilateral wrist disorders, cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorder other than ulcer have been denied. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including a lack of VA examinations and opinions. The AOJ is required to obtain verification of garrison exposure and provide the Veteran with VA examinations and opinions considering toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of myofascial pain cervical spine, lumbosacral strain, and left knee recurrent tendinitis have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disability, sarcoidosis, and diabetes due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination. The claim for TDIU prior to March 10, 2016 remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for eligibility to specially adapted housing (SAH) and special home adaptation (SHA) due to unclear findings regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of one or more upper and/or lower extremities.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection effective from the date of his claim.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board will not address higher ratings.,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and OSA are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to inadequate consideration of new evidence.,The Veteran's right ankle disability remains remanded as no current disabilities were diagnosed during the VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and a need for additional secondary service connection analysis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cervical spine injury, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has remanded the cases of IVDS, BLE radiculopathy, cervical spine mass, BUE radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant withdrew their appeal for increased ratings of cervical spine disability, radiculopathy disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability.