Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic shin splints, left and right, as well as his left and right shoulder conditions, headaches, cervical spine degenerative disc disease (neck condition), radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.,The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to shin splints, shoulder conditions, headaches, cervical spine issues, or upper extremity radiculopathy. Post-service VA treatment records also failed to provide such findings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disability has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with the case as he is deceased.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service. The original opinions were inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service experiences.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, specifically cervical spine condition, residuals of traumatic head injury, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral foot, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The reasons include needing to clarify the Veteran's service in December 1995 and obtaining missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including shoulder, hip, ankle, and spine issues, are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of cervical strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (right finger condition), left finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (left finger condition), right wrist rheumatoid arthritis (right wrist condition), left wrist rheumatoid arthritis (left wrist condition), left ankle condition, cardiac condition, and skin condition have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and other conditions such as narcolepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic sinusitis, tension headaches, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, lower back strain, cervical neck strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, right 4th metacarpal fracture with scar, allergic rhinitis, shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, right eye strabismus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to August 13, 2019.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability has been dismissed as the claim was fully granted in an October 2022 rating decision. The appeals for service connection for lesion of the scalp, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and low back disorder, finding that there is a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee injury pain, and right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including spondylosis and scoliosis, as well as his cervical spine disability, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical strain increased in severity on August 24, 2017. The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 24, 2017 for a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran currently has a neck or low back disability that is related to service, as well as whether her numbness in bilateral feet disability may be due to her service-connected pes cavus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition, but remanded the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD, service connection for cervical spine condition, and TDIU due to lack of recent medical records and outdated examination reports.,Further, the Board found that there is at least an approximate balance of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lower back condition is related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the previous VA examination and the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's neck scar is disfiguring.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the disability picture is adequately described by the existing schedular criteria, and thus, no extraschedular evaluation was warranted. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from June 1, 2022, was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and left ankle disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses. Service connection for a spine disability is remanded.