Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

Service connection for a neck condition and right shoulder condition is denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but the issue of service connection for bilateral ear condition to include bilateral hearing loss needs further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis and cervical spondylosis were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and there has been no continuity of symptomatology since active service or within a year of separation from active service. The Board finds that the persuasive weight of the evidence shows these disabilities were not incurred in service.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis were also not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and there has been no continuity of symptomatology since active service or within a year of separation from active service. The Board finds that the persuasive weight of the evidence shows these disabilities were not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to service or any service-connected disabilities. The Veteran must provide additional evidence of his in-service injury and lay statements supporting his claim.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The issues have been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service. The appeal regarding headaches is remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.,Service connection was denied for all three claimed conditions: cervical spine disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches (migraines).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 30 percent prior to September 23, 2022, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations. The Board found no evidence of forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and sciatic nerve damage of the right lower extremity are granted service connection. His cervical strain, as well as his radicular nerve damage in both upper extremities, are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sciatic nerve disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to lack of a current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The claim for cervical spine degenerative disc disease was denied in the August 2022 rating decision. New and relevant evidence has not been received to readjudicate this claim.,New and relevant evidence has been received for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and disc disease, and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, warranting readjudication of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for higher level review of the September 2018 rating decision was denied due to being untimely.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, renal failure, cervical cancer, and special monthly compensation due to in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions. Additional development is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The cases for left-hand, left leg, left shoulder, and neck disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The case for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further adjudication due to a failure to comply with VA's duty to assist and a prior remand order. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular rating criteria for a grant of TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) throughout the period at issue.

The Veteran's claims for neck disability, tinnitus, and OSA as secondary to PTSD are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PFB, cervical spine disability, and right hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current noncompensable rating for PFB is appropriate due to its mild nature. For the cervical spine, there was no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS. For the right hip, the medical evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at a 20 percent rating effective February 10, 2021. The rating for the inguinal hernia was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to toxic substances and stressor events. The cervical spine, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claims are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including dizziness and vertigo, anxiety, migraines, stiff neck pain, and shoulder pain, as secondary to service-connected temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD).

The Board has granted service connection for neck, low back, right shoulder, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities. The left ankle disability is also granted as arthritis.