Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, cervical spine as there is no evidence of a current disability that began during or was caused by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, specifically addressing his SI joint and iliac crest deformity. The case will also include an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding whether he requires aid and attendance due to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability. The claims for service connection of the left shoulder, cervical spine, back, and right wrist disabilities are remanded due to incomplete verification of service dates and need for additional medical examination in context of combat exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The cervical spine disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for the cervical spine disability is denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to service.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep condition is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder are granted as service connected.,Secondary service connection is granted for cervical spine, right knee, and left knee conditions due to lumbosacral spine condition.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to insufficient efforts in obtaining medical records, particularly those from overseas during the Veteran's service and post-service care. The RO is instructed to make formal findings regarding these efforts.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for rating higher than 10 percent for cervical spine prior to August 18, 2021; a higher rating than 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine (low back disability); and a higher rating than 30 percent from June 4, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to service, as well as whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability or left shoulder strain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and cervical spine disabilities, as well as a need for an examination to determine the current severity of his left inguinal hernia.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of epididymitis and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy, is a result of his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete or inadequate examination reports. The issues include service connection for various upper extremity neurological disorders, a right shoulder disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, breast reduction, and a cervical disorder (claimed as cancerous tissue).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right and left tennis elbow, left shoulder arthritis, left hand neuropathy, right leg neuropathy, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted. The PACT Act expanded the presumptive exposure for hypertension to include veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, left ankle, right ankle, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions in previous examinations. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for his cervical spine disability and left upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to inconsistencies in the May 2022 VA examination report. The Veteran will be afforded a new VA examination of his cervical spine disability, including clarification on the extent of additional limitation in range of motion during repetitive motion testing.