Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development regarding her cervical disorder and headaches, including a rating increase and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for increased ratings are not prior to October 31, 2016. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted a 20% rating, effective December 7, 2022.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted a 20% rating, effective December 7, 2022.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted a 20% rating, effective December 7, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck condition and hematologic condition due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The right knee condition, atypical chest pain, and bruxism cases are also being remanded.,The appellant's anemia is being remanded as there is no discussion on whether it may be presumptively connected to service under the PACT Act or Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune exposure.,The right knee condition is being remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion. The atypical chest pain case is also being remanded for a clear diagnosis and opinions on both direct and secondary service connection, while the bruxism case is being remanded for an opinion on secondary service connection.,The appellant's atypical chest pain is being remanded as there are no conclusive diagnoses of the condition. The right knee condition is being remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion. The bruxism case is also being remanded for a clear diagnosis and opinions on both direct and secondary service connection.,The appellant's bruxism is being remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion, as well as lack of consideration of his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, right shoulder/arm condition, and right clavicle condition due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's TDIU and increased rating claims for cubital tunnel syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date for TDIU or a higher rating for cubital tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical strain and TBI, as well as service connection for a respiratory disability (claimed as asthma) secondary to his service-connected neurocognitive disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive features, are being remanded due to the failure to schedule VA examinations. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with the May 2020 directives and has remanded several issues, including those related to hip replacements, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and service connection for the cause of death. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and left knee conditions. However, these claims are still remanded as new VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy were denied service connection as they did not originate in service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active service.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's obesity, which he claimed caused or aggravated his musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board denied service connection for neck and right shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining service treatment records, addressing the propriety of a reduction in rating, scheduling VA examinations, and attempting to obtain medical records from non-VA providers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective date of service connection for tinnitus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and several hernia and knee disorders due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his cervical spine scar was granted with an effective date of February 27, 2017. The appeals for all other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a cervical spine disability, as well as his service connection claim for bone cancer are remanded due to incomplete examinations and lack of information on the competency of VA examiners. Additionally, a temporary total rating based on convalescence (based on surgery for bone cancer) and TDIU claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a spine disability, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is being returned for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for restoration of his former 20 percent ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities associated with cervical spine disability, effective December 1, 2018. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, residuals of frostbite in the left ear, and residuals of frostbite in the right ear. However, these claims are still being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and right foot disabilities are currently pending.