Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, cervical spine disability, and heart disability (to include CAD) due to lack of evidence showing chronicity during or after service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's disabilities are considered to be related to natural aging processes rather than service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, secondary to a back disability (spondylolysis), has been dismissed. Service connection is granted for the Veteran's back disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and neck disability.

The Board denied service connection for neck disability, change in color in the hands, headaches, and weakness in the arm and numbness in the fingers.,No effective date was granted as all claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his low back and neck disabilities, as well as a claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine strain with IVDS and cervical spondylosis with IVDS, and VA must consider the Veteran's employment history in determining whether he is unemployable.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for upper back pain, previously claimed as neck disability, to include left arm was denied. The Board found that the new evidence did not show upper back disability due to an in-service injury, illness, or event.,The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for TBI with headaches was denied because there was no CUE in the September 1998 rating decision denying service connection for headaches. The Board concluded that the correct facts were before the AOJ at the time of the decision and that the applicable statutory and regulatory provisions were correctly applied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, a respiratory disability (asthma), a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability due to the lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for reopening service connection for a cervical spine disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from August 18, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left hip, right hip, and cervical spine. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected condition.,Specifically, multiple VA examiners have found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hip and cervical spine disorders to his in-service meningococcemia.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and that he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability and PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and service. The Veteran was scheduled for an examination but did not attend, so further attempts are needed.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to July 6, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities. From July 6, 2020, the claim for a TDIU is denied as he was incarcerated for a felony conviction.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating increases due to incomplete records from the Peru Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and additional evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues of reopening a right shoulder disability claim, service connection for cervical spine and right elbow disabilities, and TDIU are also on appeal.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of a neck disability and left knee disability, but denied other claims due to lack of new and material evidence. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The claim for left knee disability has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the issues of rating and secondary service connection remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical dysplasia and CIN.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the loss of use of one hand and one foot is granted. The appeal for increased ratings for various Dupuytren's contracture disabilities, cervical spine conditions, and right leg radiculopathy is dismissed as moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and cervical radiculopathy (claimed as peripheral neuropathy of the hands), including as due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions and need for additional medical examination.