Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis from February 13, 2013 to December 26, 2013. The Veteran's service-connected conditions left him unable to work as a contractor during this period.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate, right and left knee disabilities for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include major depressive disorder, cervical spine disability, total knee replacements on both knees, gout in multiple joints, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left hip osteoarthritis are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's contention that his current cervical spine disability was caused by lymphadenopathy during service, which is a symptom of his cervical spine condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar strain due to inadequate examinations that did not account for pain during range of motion testing, flare-ups, or ankylosis. The cases are being referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

An increased initial rating of 20 percent (but no higher) for service-connected cervical spine IVDS is granted effective February 27, 2019.,An increased initial rating of 20 percent (but no higher) for service-connected lumbosacral spine IVDS is granted effective February 27, 2019.

The Veteran's cervical strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to September 24, 2020, and the Board has denied a higher rating for both periods on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely due to age-related degeneration and post-military trauma, rather than his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and conjunctivitis with hypertensive retinopathy due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to address relevant service treatment records. The Veteran's representative also noted that VA failed to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for various skin disorders and spine and shoulder conditions, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip disability, and left hip disability are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the issues are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has found that the duty to assist this Veteran has not been fulfilled and a remand is required to acquire outstanding private medical records related to his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability and service connection for a cervical spine condition, which is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and analysis.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was reduced from a 20% rating to a 10% rating, effective June 1, 2021. The reduction was improper and the claim for restoration of the 20% rating is granted.

Service connection for back disability is granted.,Service connection for neck disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are denied. Service connection for neuropathy affecting the right lower extremity and left lower extremity is remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, which includes strain, stenosis, and degenerative changes, is granted an initial rating of 20 percent from December 12, 2008, to December 11, 2017 (excluding periods already evaluated at 100 percent).