Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, shoulder, hand, knee, and ankle disorders. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for neck disability and heart disability (IHD) due to insufficient reasoning in previous opinions. The Veteran's claims are not currently granted as there is no clear evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for neck disability, head injury (including TBI and headaches), low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. These issues are being remanded to allow for further development of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted as it was incurred or aggravated during active duty service, specifically combat service in Saudi Arabia. The Board finds that the Veteran's current pain from his cervical spine disorder can be linked to his service and has been present within one year of discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as secondary to service-connected allergic sinusitis. The issues of whether the character of discharge and service connection for psychiatric disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, arthritis of the cervical spine, and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine pain, PTSD, and a sleep disorder. The case is remanded to allow for further development of these issues.

The Veteran's neck disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective June 14, 2016. The Board has remanded the issue of a higher rating for his cervical spine disability.,Effective June 14, 2016, service connection was granted for depressive disorder associated with a neck disability and migraine headaches associated with a neck disability.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been withdrawn.,New evidence received since the last final denial supports reopening of claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that it clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran contends his current conditions are related to service or his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the cervical spine during the appeal period and denied service connection for this condition. The lumbar spine issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was denied due to lack of evidence. New and material evidence has not been received since the last denial.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD was reopened as new and material evidence related to his current diagnosis was submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete development, including a lack of SSA records. The VA will obtain these records and provide them to an examiner who previously provided opinions on the issues.

Service connection is denied for hypertension, basal cell carcinoma, neck disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. Service connection is granted for tension headaches and lower lip numbness associated with the service-connected chin scar.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and cervical strain have been granted initial disability ratings of 10%, 20% respectively, with the lumbosacral strain rating increased to 40% effective May 8, 2023.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and the issue of increased ratings for cervical degenerative disc disease is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder disability and remanded the issue of whether his cervical spine disability is aggravated by a service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.