Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and cervical spine disorder due to in-service exposure, as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology. The Veteran will need a VA examination to clarify these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on any of the issues. As such, no rating or determination was made.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current condition and service. The claim was also dismissed for the neck disability as it had already been granted in a prior decision.,Service connection for a neck disability was granted in October 2021, but the issue of TDIU before January 31, 2017 is denied, and the subsequent TDIU after that date is considered moot.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, GERD, lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical strain.,There is no persuasive evidence that the Veteran's current shoulder or GERD conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for lumbar spine disability, IBS, and cervical spine disability are dismissed as no appeal was submitted.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 10 percent for a cervical spine disability prior to December 3, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter, and entitlement to a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) with earlier effective date.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for cervical spine motion loss due to scars, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating. The Board also denied a separate claim for swallowing difficulty related to the scar, as it found no evidence of moderate esophageal stricture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further development. The issues include arthritis, hearing loss, cold weather injuries, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, GERD, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities due to an automobile accident in service, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the accidents caused his current conditions. The Veteran will need a VA examination to address this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, right arm, and shoulder conditions as secondary to service-connected lower back disability due to insufficient opinions in the January 2020 VA examination.

The appeal of the TMJ disability issue is dismissed.,A 20% rating, but no higher, for cervical degenerative disc disease from April 27, 2010 to September 9, 2020 is granted. A rating in excess of 20% for cervical degenerative disc disease from September 10, 2020 to February 4, 2021 and a rating in excess of 30% since February 5, 2021 are denied.,A 20% rating, but no higher, for lumbar degenerative disc disease from October 13, 2017 to December 13, 2020 is granted. A rating in excess of 40% since February 5, 2021 is denied.,A separate 10% rating, but no higher, for left knee degenerative joint disease based on recurrent lateral instability since April 27, 2010 is granted. A rating in excess of 10% for right upper extremity radiculopathy from April 27, 2010 to August 3, 2017 and a separate 20% rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 are granted. A rating in excess of 10% for right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 27, 2010 to August 3, 2017 and a separate 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 are denied. A 40% rating, but no higher, for right upper extremity radiculopathy from August 4, 2017 to February 4, 2021 is granted and a separate 30% rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 is granted. A 20% rating, but no higher, for right lower extremity radiculopathy from August 4, 2017 to February 4, 2021 and a separate 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy since August 4, 2017 are granted. A rating in excess of 40% for right upper extremity radiculopathy since February 5, 2021 is denied and a rating in excess of 30% for left upper extremity radiculopathy since February 5, 2021 is denied.,A separate noncompensable rating, but no higher, for erectile dysfunction since April 27, 2010 is granted. A TDIU from April 27, 2010 through August 12, 2019 is granted.

The Veteran's bunions of the bilateral little toes and neck disability have been denied service connection. The lumbosacral spine disability has resulted in an effective date of July 20, 2007 for a 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and medical opinions to determine the severity of his cervical spine disability, service connection for his knee disabilities, sleep apnea, cluster headaches, and acquired mental health disorder (including PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's Vietnam service and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to authorize release of his private primary care physician's medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative disease and uncovertebral hypertrophy at C7-T1. The appeal regarding sleep phase disorder was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, cervical strain, radiculopathy of the left arm, cerebral palsy, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and a left elbow disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis. The claims regarding the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis and low back condition are remanded for de novo review on the merits.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for low back condition. The claims regarding the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis and low back condition are remanded for de novo review on the merits.,The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for right leg condition is remanded.,The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for left leg condition is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty military service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various hip, shoulder, and ankle conditions as well as the claim for an increased disability rating for prostate cancer. The TDIU claim was also dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, as well as an increased rating for cervical degenerative disc disease, were granted. The low back impairment claim was remanded.