Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to obtain service personnel records. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being reviewed for possible secondary service connection with his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.

The Veteran's disability evaluations for traumatic right spinal accessory neuropathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as cervical spine IVDS, were reduced. The Board has restored the original ratings of 40% and 20%, respectively.,The reduction in disability evaluation was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine with IVDS, as well as radiculopathy in multiple extremities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on the severity of his disabilities.,The Veteran was granted 30 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent evaluations for middle radicular group radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and lower extremities respectively. However, these evaluations are still denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings related to his cervical strain, left knee strain, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and bilateral pes planus second degree.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his neurological disabilities, particularly those related to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bowel disability, neck disability, spinal curvature disability, shoulder disability, head tremors, and acquired psychiatric disability, all claimed as due to Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water exposure. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding medical records and provide notice with an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for his neck condition was dismissed as he withdrew the issue prior to a decision being made.

Service connection is granted for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and brachial neuralgia.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and a nerve disability of the left upper extremity, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims. The Board concluded that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right knee strain and a right knee surgical scar have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary for the Veteran's back disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, neck disability, ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disability due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability (pes planus), and left foot disability (pes planus) have been granted. The claim for service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inability to contact him and missed VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for asthma, a cervical spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and traumatic brain injury are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back condition, cervical spine condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral ankle conditions, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also found that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating effective July 25, 2017. The other conditions have had their ratings adjusted or granted.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, left hand condition, right hand condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, neck disability, and right ankle condition. The new evidence received since the last denial is relevant to an in-service event that the Veteran believes caused his disabilities and a nexus between service and the disabilities.

The Veteran's back and cervical spine disabilities have been granted a rating of 20 percent from September 11, 2008, to September 30, 2019.