Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and gout, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Board also noted that there was no credible medical evidence linking herbicide exposure to the development of gout.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, headache disability, and upper extremity radiculopathy due to outstanding records and a need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his military service, including any in-service injuries or events.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to his in-service injury and service-connected TBI.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, nerve disability affecting right upper extremity (CTS), and right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities to their previous levels, effective September 21, 2017, as the reduction was improper due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain, right arm radiculopathy, and left arm radiculopathy due to incomplete examination reports and lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was restored to 70% effective August 26, 2017. The appeal for increased evaluations of other conditions and service connection claims were dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and obstructive sleep apnea due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 due to the need for additional medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) documents.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also remanded as it may be impacted by these other claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, bilateral hands, and left shoulder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current conditions and military service. The case will be returned for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right big toe pain and bilateral hip pain are dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, Lyme disease residuals with right elbow arthralgia, limitation of flexion prior to November 4, 2021, Lyme disease residuals with left elbow arthralgia, pronation/supination, and left knee degenerative joint disease with residual Lyme disease arthralgia (limitation of flexion).

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of right shoulder, low back, neck, left knee, costochondritis, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's neck symptoms at specific points in the past, including May 28, 2012, to June 30, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic thoracolumbar pain, segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar and thoracic region, ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine, neuralgia sciatic nerve, and neuralgia of all three radicular groups.,The Board also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for stress fracture right inferior pubic ramus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and neck disabilities due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The VA examiner provided negative opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, but did not consider the Veteran's reports of pain since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and bilateral hearing loss, are rated at least 70 percent combined. The Board has granted a schedular TDIU rating from August 20, 2013, but the issue of an extraschedular TDIU rating is being remanded due to outstanding SSA records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis and vertigo due to unclear functional loss and potential need for additional examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA-provided examinations to determine the severity of his cervical spine disorder and whether he has a current vertigo condition, including its etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 6, 2016.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, low back disability, neck disability, shoulder disability, lung disability to include COPD, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded.