Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her cervical spine spondylosis and thoracolumbar spondylosis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 7, 2020 for the Veteran's cervical strain disability rated at 30 percent.

Effective dates of June 6, 2014, and no earlier, have been granted for service connection for lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative arthritis, cervical spine strain, degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome, and PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, as it is related to his active duty service and secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The VA will provide an addendum medical opinion regarding these issues.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted a 30 percent disability rating, and the right and left knee disorders are denied initial ratings greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not severe enough to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to June 28, 2012. The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the low back disability and remanded issues of service connection for upper back and neck disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding secondary causation or aggravation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as the claims were not filed within one year of the February 25, 2008 rating decision.,The request for an extension of time to file a Notice of Disagreement was denied due to lack of good cause shown.

The Veteran's service-connected CAD, acute myocardial infarction, CHF with CABG status PCI is granted a temporary total rating of 100% from December 23, 2023 to March 23, 2024. The remaining issues related to PVD, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and its relation to service-connected conditions. The Appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis and degenerative arthritis disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). Service connection was also granted for a scar status-post anterior cervical discectomy as secondary to his cervical spondylosis and degenerative arthritis disability. The claims for left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy were dismissed due to the Veteran not filing a timely VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from November 14, 2011 to March 19, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination before making a decision on service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran is requested to be examined by VA to determine if his current cervical spine disability is related to his service, including combat experiences and 'forced horseplay' reported by him.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic sensory motor neuropathy, renal calculus, erectile dysfunction, and right knee disability.,There is no evidence of a chronic or continuous condition since service separation.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, along with left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied compensable ratings prior to August 5, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for cervical strain and lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the presence of radiculopathy or numbness conditions, which may be related to his service-connected cervical strain or lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy was improper, as there is not clear and unmistakable evidence that the criteria for evaluating cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome based on incapacitating episodes contemplates associated neurological manifestations. As a result, the Veteran's separate 20% disability ratings for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are restored.

The Veteran's initial rating for a back disability is granted at 20 percent, and service connection is granted for right ankle and cervical spine disabilities. The claim for TDIU prior to January 4, 2013, is remanded.

The Board has determined that the September 2020 VA examination and opinion are inadequate, as they do not provide a clear etiological link between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. The claims for service connection are remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing these issues.