Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's condition pre-existed his periods of active duty and was not aggravated by any in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is granted an initial 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for cervical strain with IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are denied prior to October 19, 2021, but granted thereafter. Separate ratings for left hip bursitis and patellar instability associated with left knee degenerative arthritis are granted effective from October 19, 2021. The rating for right knee bipartite patella with discoid medial meniscus is granted a separate 20 percent rating as of January 28, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies, and bowel incontinence, have been rated based on their severity. The decision grants increased ratings for some conditions but denies others.

The Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for weight gain, adjustment disorder, OSA, lymphogranulomatosis, plantar fasciitis, and cervical spine disability were denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for voiding dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ remain unchanged.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, left knee arthritis with internal derangement, right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy have all been denied.,Specifically, the criteria for a higher rating were not met for each condition.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities. However, the appeal is remanded for further action on claims for osteopenia, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability, a left shoulder disability, and a right knee disability.,Service connection is established for tinnitus due to its presumptive association with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The remaining issues, including those related to the left hand and right knee disabilities, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and cervical spine disability are granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss disability is denied. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the etiology of the cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings for cervical spine sprain with intervertebral disc syndrome and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with arthritis due to the passage of time since the last VA examinations, which are necessary to assess current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative joint disease cervical spine, residual midline incisional scar of the posterior neck, and depressive disorder NOS as these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The VA will also obtain updated treatment records, conduct TERA examinations, and schedule further examinations as needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not originate in service or until years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rating increases for his lumbar and cervical spine conditions, as well as headaches. Additional medical records are needed to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the current conditions were not related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the shoulders and cervical spine DDD are remanded due to lack of a VA examination. The claim for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is inextricably intertwined with the cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with TBI and lumbar strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 5, 2009.