Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his left knee disability has been withdrawn. Service connection is granted for asthma, but the Board finds that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities as they have already been granted in a previous rating decision. The claims of erectile dysfunction and bilateral leg numbness are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating were dismissed as the requests for extensions of time to file appeal forms were denied, and no good cause was shown.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's back injury is presumed to have occurred prior to service, but it is unclear if the preexisting condition worsened during service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for residual cervical spine scar, left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted. The Veteran is now in receipt of a higher rating for his left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy since August 20, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service and no causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore, he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance or adaptive equipment.

The Board denied effective dates prior to April 18, 2021 for the grants of service connection for various disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an intent to file a claim before that date.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his psychiatric disorder is dismissed. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left hand degenerative arthritis, and right hand degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including those related to increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective date for DEA benefits, PTSD disability rating, cervical spine disorder service connection, and TDIU mootness.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and neck conditions due to inadequate etiology opinions based on the Veteran's lay statements of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service events, with no evidence contradicting the opinions provided by medical professionals.

The Veteran's back brace caused wear and tear on his clothing, but he does not have a service-connected elbow disability or skin condition requiring the use of topical steroid cream. The Board has granted an annual clothing allowance for the back brace in 2020.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine DDD, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and anterior neck scar service connection were denied. The effective dates for these awards are fixed in accordance with the facts found.

The Board denied service connection for cataracts, finding no in-service symptoms or diagnosis of the condition and no link to the service-connected heart disability. Service connection was also denied for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and IVDS due to lack of evidence of a chronic injury during service.,A higher initial disability rating for the heart disability from August 18, 2022, was already adjudicated in this decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for cervical stenosis and cord compression C5-6, C6-7.

The Veteran's service-connected back, neck, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings from August 16, 2018. The highest rating of 40 percent has been granted for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a private medical opinion indicating a high probability of cervical strain being related to service, warrants readjudication. The Board finds in favor of granting service connection for cervical strain due to reasonable doubt.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy are currently rated at the maximum allowed, and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is also rated at the maximum allowed, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's eligibility for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to a finding that he did not meet the criteria for personal care services, as his medical and functional assessments indicated he could manage his own daily activities and medications without assistance.