Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone supports an award of total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability, and his other service-connected disabilities combined exceed a 60% rating. Therefore, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is granted for the purpose of accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's claimed conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee with patellar spur is denied a rating greater than 10 percent. The claims for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, lumbar, cervical neck, right knee, and left knee disorders due to inadequate etiological opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity cervical myelopathy as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar and cervical spine conditions due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand orders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and right knee disorders require additional medical examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain, left and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fungus of the feet and toenails was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of this condition, and thus denied the claim. Other issues were remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine (neck) disability and remanded both the service connection and compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a separate disability of the back other than cervical strain and for left ring finger fracture, to include scarring, as secondary to service-connected cervical strain. The claim for increased rating for cervical strain was also denied.,There is no indication that any exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune) played a role in the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The claim will be reviewed with a new VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to changes in his symptoms and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased evaluation for right shoulder impingement syndrome. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The appeals for service connection for the listed disabilities are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for various knee, hip, ankle, back, neck, and elbow disabilities. A 10 percent disability rating is also granted for headaches.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities. The effective date issue is resolved with an October 31, 2016 effective date for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and shoulder disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of continuity of symptomatology.