Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and right and left knee disorders have been granted.,Service connection is denied for asbestosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities throughout the entire appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, neck, and foot disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed to have been incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for right knee strain and left foot strain have been granted, but the Board finds that an earlier effective date is not warranted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg nervous disability was denied as there is no evidence of record to support this condition.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the assignment of a separate rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy, which was already contemplated in the evaluation assigned for cervical spine IVDS under DC 5243. The Veteran's entitlement to a separate compensable evaluation for right upper extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for other specified trauma and stress related disorder, but has remanded the cases of cervical spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to thoracic spine disability.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted a 30 percent rating from July 29, 2011 to November 30, 2015. The initial 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy and the initial 50 percent rating for sinusitis are granted effective December 14, 2013 and November 10, 2020 respectively. TDIU is denied prior to September 3, 2010 and dismissed from September 3, 2010 onwards.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating prior to September 16, 2016. An increased rating in excess of 30 percent is denied from that date forward.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed to have rendered him unemployable since November 2008, and the Board has referred the issue of TDIU prior to May 9, 2014, on an extraschedular basis for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee disability, and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain with muscle spasm is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease prior to November 10, 2022, is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease from November 10, 2022, is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's cyst on ovaries and resultant bleeding is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's tinnitus, low back disability, cervical spine disability, and migraine headaches are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of information about an in-service fall on an airplane ramp. The AOJ must make appropriate efforts to obtain any available incident report.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted, thus denying the reopening of the claim. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right knee and ankle disabilities, as well as an initial compensable rating for a left knee surgical scar, are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2004, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, GERD, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and right knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for presbyopia with hypermetropia, astigmatism, and pinguecula is set at July 21, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine have been reopened, but both conditions are denied as they did not manifest within one year after separation from service and there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, cervical spine condition, headaches, and bilateral hip condition. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, and kidney disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained on remand are inadequate and did not comply with the October 2022 Board remand directives. The claims for service connection must be remanded again due to the need for additional examinations.