Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative joint disease.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's TBI is related to his military service and grants service connection for it. However, the Board has also determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a diagnosis of PTSD since filing his claim or within close proximity thereto, thus denying service connection for PTSD. The remaining issues regarding thoracolumbar spine condition and cervical spine condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, right shoulder disability, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the September 2020 rating decision on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to verify his Reserve service dates.

The Veteran's claims for cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, IVDS with bulging disc, and thoracic strain have been granted. The appeal of the issues related to right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating for GERD has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a cervical spine condition, finding that new evidence supports these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants because her service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service job duties and symptoms that have persisted post-service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, head injury to include TBI, cervical spine disability, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC A&A/HB is remanded due to the inadequacy of the medical evidence provided at the time of the initial decision. The Board requires an appropriate VA Aid and Attendance Examination to determine if her service-connected disabilities necessitate regular aid and attendance or result in housebound status.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased evaluations of 30 percent each, but no higher.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 6, 2016 for service connection of cervicogenic headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right cervical lymph node from June 13, 2013 is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the need for further clarification regarding the status of his cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's current back and cervical spine disabilities are related to service, specifically whether they are due to aggravation of pre-existing conditions or onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and migraines, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 22, 2011. Effective as of April 30, 2019, she is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a neck disability was dismissed as the VA Form 10182 (Notice of Disagreement) was not timely filed, and no extension request or good cause was provided.

The Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral arm radiculopathy disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's sleep apnea is also remanded for a determination on whether it is secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected.,The effective date for the lumbar spine disability is set at June 14, 2017.,A 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability is assigned with a June 14, 2017, effective date.,Separate ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are granted with a June 14, 2017, effective date.,The right knee disability is rated at 30 percent with a June 14, 2017, effective date.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are each rated at 20 percent with effective dates prior to January 14, 2019.,The right knee instability is rated at 10 percent with an effective date prior to June 12, 2020.,Service connection for a migraine headache disorder is granted and the earliest possible effective date of November 7, 2017, is assigned.

The appeals of the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities and PTSD have been dismissed.,An increased rating for a low back disability has been denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis with cervical strain is granted as service connected, and the Board finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran's current neck disability began in service.