Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being reviewed again as it may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain and cervical spine degenerative joint disease due to incomplete medical records and need for new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings and effective dates for various disabilities remains pending due to the AOJ not yet readjudicating the claims in the modernized review system (AMA).,Issues related to left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, lumbosacral strain with DJD, cervical strain with DJD, and tinnitus are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and neck disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the March 2022 rating decision. The Veteran is required to be afforded new VA examinations with adequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, bilateral elbow lateral epicondylitis, and bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are all granted as service-connected. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to hypertension, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and chronic kidney condition.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's cervical spondylosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran's May 2023 VA Form 10182 was not timely filed and no good cause for extension has been presented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been dismissed as moot because the benefit was already granted in a prior decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for abdominal aortic aneurysm, lumbar spine disability (with lumbago), and cervical spine disability with stenosis. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were caused by U.S. Army service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a failure to obtain an updated line of duty determination considering the evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was not received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and bilateral ear disabilities. The claim for bilateral ear disability other than hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo is readjudicated as having been supported by new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, neck disability (claimed as neck pain), and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, seizure disorder, and related secondary service connection issues due to inadequate development of evidence and lack of adequate rationale in medical opinions.

The Veteran's cervical strain and lumbar DDD, DJD with compression fracture T12 disabilities have been restored to their original ratings of 30% and 40%, respectively. A total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been granted effective December 21, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical fusion/cervical herniated disc (neck disability) and left shoulder condition, finding that these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which accounts for forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less. From March 13, 2020, to October 15, 2021, the Veteran had cervical radiculopathy affecting all radicular groups with moderate incomplete paralysis on the major side and mild incomplete paralysis on the minor side.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a higher rating of lumbosacral strain is granted. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is May 9, 2019, but no earlier, as this was within one year of his April 2020 VA Form 20-0995 submission. For the cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy claims, the AOJ must obtain additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine spondylosis and stenosis post laminectomy syndrome (low back), right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. As a result, these claims are being remanded to allow for further review.