Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities.,These conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's left elbow status-post avulsion fracture, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain have been granted service connection with a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability has also been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case for new VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's current spinal and shoulder conditions are related to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The previous VA examinations were deemed inadequate due to lack of thoroughness and consideration of the Veteran's pain reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee, left knee, cervical spine disorder, CFS, right fingers, left fingers, right hip, left hip, lumbar spine disorder, right wrist, left wrist, left leg, right shoulder, left lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder, burns of the right tibia/fibula, and GERD disorders due to incomplete service treatment records and lack of confirmation of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 20, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, low back disability, neck disability, and gout. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, stomach, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities due to their being aggravated by preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 3, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for his cervical spine disability has been denied due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and left testicle varicocele with voiding dysfunction are granted. The Veteran is assigned a 40% rating for the left testicle varicocele condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy in all four extremities, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU on an accrued benefits basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. These conditions are deemed to have had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right elbow disorders, as well as a claim for an increased disability evaluation for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is not due to disease or injury incurred in active duty.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The TDIU claim was granted.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started in service and has continued since then. The cervical spine, low back, and left hip disorders are remanded for additional development as the VA examiners' opinions did not consider pertinent service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to failure to appear for VA examinations and requests that he be provided another opportunity to attend such exams. The issues include initial disability ratings for left knee meniscal tear status post-surgery, limitation of extension, and cervical strain.

The appeal seeking an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for the cervical spine disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to obstructive sleep apnea, hepatitis C, allergies, perforated ear drum, vision disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine, and shoulder disabilities has been withdrawn. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted reimbursement for the medical expenses incurred by the Veteran at Carthage Area Hospital on September 9, 2008, to September 10, 2008, due to his service-connected conditions and the emergency nature of his syncopal episodes.