Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of TERA examinations and opinions regarding his disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his disabilities are related to his active duty service, including exposure to toxic substances.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The cervical spine disability is rated as 20 percent prior to May 31, 2024 and 30 percent on and after that date.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral flatfoot, and left and right knee disabilities have been granted with effective dates of December 5, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran had submitted new evidence to reopen her claims.

Service connection is granted for low back condition, cervical spine condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and right wrist condition.,Service connection is granted for headache condition, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as proximately caused by now-service connected cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability were reduced from their previous levels to lower ones effective August 8, 2023, August 5, 2023, and August 5, 2023 respectively. The appeals for restoration of these ratings are denied.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy disability was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective August 8, 2023. This reduction is based on actual improvement in the disability under ordinary conditions of life.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent effective August 5, 2023. The reduction is due to actual improvement in the disability under ordinary conditions of life.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent effective August 5, 2023. This reduction is based on actual improvement in the disability under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cervical spine condition, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disability and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include left ear hearing loss, cervical strain, fatigue and full body muscle pain (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome), tinea pedis, onychomycosis and tinea corporis (claimed as full body rash and bilateral foot fungus), and bilateral vision loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted to support his claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The appeal for neck disability was withdrawn by the Veteran. Service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral leg disabilities are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The cervical spine, head trauma (including memory loss), left eye disorder, right elbow disorder, and right hand disorder were all remanded due to a lack of adequate VA examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to her military service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity cervical spine radiculopathy is granted as secondary to her service-connected cervical spine strain, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine conditions, as well as lower and upper extremity radiculopathies secondary to these conditions. The Veteran's right wrist condition is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,Service connection is granted for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, LUE radiculopathy, RUE radiculopathy, LLE radiculopathy, and RLE radiculopathy. Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless that he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person, as evidenced by his need for assistance with bathing/showering, tending to hygiene needs, eating or self-feeding, transferring in or out of a bed/chair, dressing, toileting, ambulating with his home or living area, and medication management.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right ankle disabilities are remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran also has claims for increased ratings for tension headaches and sinusitis, which are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, GAD, cervical discogenic pain, left shoulder pain, bilateral foot pain, and left elbow pain are granted. The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 28, 2012, finding that there was not sufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the claimed back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA opinion. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.