Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various spinal and joint disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA will obtain new medical opinions to clarify whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for various orthopedic conditions and hypertension. The remand is due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for new examinations to assess current disability levels.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical spine, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inconsistencies in the examination reports. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral leg condition, bilateral hip condition, and cervical spine condition due to unclear opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disability, back disability, neck disability, sciatic nerve conditions in buttocks (left and right lower extremities), lower leg disabilities (left and right lower extremities), upper extremity disabilities (left and right upper extremities), and hemorrhoids due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which adequately compensates his symptoms and functional impairment.,The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease, claimed as neck pain, is granted service connection.,Service connection for headaches is granted based on the Veteran's in-service MVA and continued symptoms.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the reduction in rating from 30 percent to 20 percent for cervical strain. The Board dismissed the issue as a result.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy were denied initially in August 2018. The appeal was not properly filed until May 12, 2021, when the Veteran submitted a supplemental claim seeking service connection for these conditions. As such, an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if she was eligible for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation, which would affect the withholding of her VA compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and his service, as well as its relation to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disability, neck disability, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence. The claims for OSA are also remanded.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinions did not substantially comply with the February 2021 Board remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various spine and foot disorders due to incomplete records and a change in address.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with a previous remand directive. The issues of service connection for cervical spine disability and upper left extremity radiculopathy are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA spine examinations. The Veteran contends her cervical spine conditions are related to an injury during active or reserve duty in 2005, but the medical opinions provided were not adequate.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The claims for HTN and bilateral hip strain remain denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to obtain outstanding medical records and for new VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder, right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, right upper extremity neuropathy, urinary dysfunction, asthma, and various knee and ankle disorders, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 1, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment was not marginal and he did not receive special accommodations in his work environment. The decision also noted that his income exceeded the poverty threshold for one person during the appeal period.