Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's application to reopen service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and OCD was granted. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, fecal incontinence, psoriasis, temporomandibular joints syndrome, vaginal episiotomy, residual scar, hemorrhoids, and residual scar associated with fecal incontinence. As a result, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, low back disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are all denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disability due to an incorrect standard applied in the previous VA medical opinions. The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine conditions are being reviewed under the correct standard of aggravation.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for additional medical opinions. The lumbosacral strain, left lung spontaneous pneumothorax, narcolepsy, and right wrist fracture status post fusion of the carpal bones require new examinations to determine their current levels of severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability with radiculopathy is denied service connection. The initial 40 percent rating for lumbar spine IVDS is restored, but a higher rating is not granted. A 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted effective January 15, 2015, and a higher rating is denied since November 22, 2021. The initial 10 percent rating for right knee degenerative joint disease with residual joint effusion is granted effective November 1, 2007, and the initial 10 percent rating for right knee instability is restored from October 16, 2019, to November 22, 2021. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 23, 2011, is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and his service-connected right ankle or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for mild mid-cervical degenerative disease (claimed as neck disability) is being reviewed.

The Veteran's tinnitus was present during service and has a continuity of symptomatology since service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, right shin disability (shin splints), and left shin disability (shin splints) are remanded as the VA examination opinion is inadequate.,Service connection for DM is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its onset during service or if it is related to any in-service exposure. Service connection for an eye disability is also remanded due to potential relationship with DM.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded as the Veteran's lay statements provide sufficient evidence of a nexus between his military police duties and his current mental health conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical strain, lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremities, have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 29, 2013. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, headaches, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these disabilities are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and spondylosis (back disability). The issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, lumbar radiculopathy, and cervical spine disability are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The right shoulder condition, back conditions (lumbar spine and cervical), and left knee condition are all being reviewed as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for urinary incontinence, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are granted. The claim for sinusitis is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal.,The Veteran's right ankle disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's GERD with duodenitis, chronic strain and DJD of the left shoulder, left wrist scaphoid fracture ORIF with residuals, DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, onychomycosis (fungus infection of the feet), and hypertension have all been denied.,The Veteran's disability ratings for GERD with duodenitis, chronic strain and DJD of the left shoulder, left wrist scaphoid fracture ORIF with residuals, DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, onychomycosis (fungus infection of the feet), and hypertension have all been denied.,The Veteran's disability ratings for GERD with duodenitis, chronic strain and DJD of the left shoulder, left wrist scaphoid fracture ORIF with residuals, DJD and DDD of the cervical spine, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, onychomycosis (fungus infection of the feet), and hypertension have all been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability aggravated his cervical spine disability and if obesity/weight gain was a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination. The issues include whether her neck disability is secondary to her service-connected low back disability and/or right lower extremity disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, migraine headaches, and left upper extremity nerve disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA must obtain additional records and provide a new opinion on causation.