Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for cervical strain and valvular heart disease, as well as claims of service connection for radiculopathy in both upper and lower extremities. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are not wholly adequate and have not addressed all relevant evidence, including private examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected conditions may warrant higher or separate ratings.

The Veteran's testicular cancer is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to burn pits and other toxins during his Southwest Asia deployment. The issues of service connection for neck disability, memory loss, and varicose veins are remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board finds a remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations for the remaining issues.,Service connection for right shoulder joint pain, right hand chronic pain (claimed as arthritis and psoriatic arthritis), right knee chronic pain (claimed as arthritis and psoriatic arthritis), and right ankle chronic pain (claimed as arthritis and psoriatic arthritis) are remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right and left upper extremity peripheral nerve, right and left extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and left foot disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they were incurred during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of ingrown toenails, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a neck disability as the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings and effective dates due to insufficient evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to additional evidence being received since the last SSOC in November 2020. The AOJ will review this new evidence before the case is reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, residuals of a groin injury, and erectile dysfunction. The conditions are deemed to be causally related to in-service events.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate previous examinations and the need for retrospective findings that fully satisfy the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. The appeals for increased evaluations and earlier effective date were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to October 3, 2018 or on and after December 5, 2023. The Board granted a 40 percent rating from October 3, 2018 to December 5, 2023 for the low back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a spine disability, including both thoracolumbar and cervical strain conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for bilateral leg and hand disabilities.,There is no evidence of a chronic disability related to the Veteran's in-service fall injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and right elbow disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing clarifying opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right arm disorder, and bilateral shin splints due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The appellant's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's headache, right foot, and left foot disabilities are found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of a sleep disability other than sleep apnea in the record.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for her 40 percent rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for her 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve is denied.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability remains pending and requires additional development.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including tension headaches, allergic rhinitis, asthma with histoplasmosis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied. The Veteran was not granted higher ratings or initial compensable ratings for several of her conditions.