Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right elbow condition, left ankle injury, cervical strain, and right foot condition due to missing service treatment records. The case will be returned to the RO to attempt to locate these records.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted a 30% rating effective February 1, 2017. The ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy remain at 40%. A higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay reports about his in-service symptoms and their relation to his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, hypothyroidism, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disability claims have been denied.

The Veteran's neurogenic bowel condition is granted a 60% rating effective January 29, 2016.,An earlier effective date of January 29, 2016, for the Veteran's myelopathy with neurogenic bladder and neurogenic bowel conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical radiculopathy with carpal tunnel syndrome were denied as the evidence did not show that the conditions warranted a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and left knee disorders. The Veteran's right knee disorder was not found to be related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain were reduced from 40% to 10%, but the reduction in the rating for lumbosacral strain was improper, so the original 40% rating is restored. The reduction of the rating for cervical strain was proper.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative arthritis disabilities are found to have originated during active service. The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and updated VA treatment records. The right shoulder disability rating is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, and right foot disabilities. The issues include direct service connection as well as secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, otitis externa, and a cervical spine disability due to incomplete information regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, verify the dates of service, and provide medical opinions on the etiology of the disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to their failure to attend VA examinations and current homelessness. The RO is instructed to attempt to locate the Veteran, schedule new VA examinations if located, and consider all relevant evidence in determining the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. Additionally, his facial scars prior to April 15, 2022, tinnitus, and headaches have also been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims, granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with other specified depressive disorder, but denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's neck disability and gunshot wound to the left index finger were denied service connection, while a compensable evaluation was granted for the gunshot wound prior to November 9, 2022.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 24, 2021 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for a neck disability is denied.,The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to June 24, 2021 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for right upper extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to unclear etiology and pathophysiology of the conditions. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a neck disability service connection is granted. The Board finds the evidence sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of establishing the claim, but remands for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.