Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and degenerative disc disease with anterior spurring of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these disabilities were incurred during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome due to an undiagnosed illness, respiratory problems including shortness of breath due to an undiagnosed illness, and chronic pain due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's symptoms were noted during service and continued after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for retrospective medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back and neck disabilities. The SMC claim is also remanded as it depends on the development of the spine disability issues.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and a neck disability, finding the evidence does not support a link to active duty service. The thyroid condition claim is remanded due to lack of verification of radiation exposure.,Service connection will be considered for the Veteran's claimed conditions based on direct evidence rather than presumptions or secondary theories.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these disabilities are related to the Veteran's active military service.,Service connection was also granted for sleep apnea, which is considered a separate issue from the neck and low back disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, neck disability, and back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding the conditions less likely than not related to service or within a year of separation.,The Board also denied entitlement to nonservice-connected pension prior to October 1, 2017 on the basis of countable income.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, and right leg disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for additional VR&E services, including training to pursue a medical degree, was granted. The Board found that the Veteran had service-connected disabilities and functional limitations that made it necessary to change his rehabilitation goal from biomedical sciences to medicine.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient research on the Veteran's claimed exposure to radiation while stationed in Germany.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several conditions has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims by his attorney in December 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful occupation prior to June 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities have been reopened, but the Board has determined that service connection is not warranted based on lack of nexus between current disabilities and service. The right hand and left hand disability claims are also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder and ankle conditions, knee degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, skin disorders, cervical spine disability, facial injury residuals, TMJ, sleep apnea, headaches, hand tremors, CFS, fibromyalgia, and muscle and joint pain. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and arthritis of the right hand, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, left and right hand disabilities, neck disability, right ring finger disability, and throat disability have been dismissed.,New evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for low back disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis, migraines, cervical strain, and tinnitus based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's thoracic spondylosis is granted service connection. The cervical spine disorder, left and right upper extremity nerve conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a gynecological disability, loss of sex drive, and bilateral pes planus are all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions. However, the Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus is remanded due to inadequate examination.