Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct or secondary relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a left ankle disability and denied the petition to reopen the claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal as to the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD has been withdrawn. Service connection is granted for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, with the cause being service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for a neurologic condition of the lower extremities, claimed as nerve spasms, is denied. The claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been granted but not higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded three issues related to service connection for hernia condition, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's cervical spine, C5-C6 fusion surgery performed by VA in December 2014 did not result in an additional disability that is proximately due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or other instance of fault on the part of VA.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disorders other than asthma including chronic cough, COPD and RAD, and sleep apnea syndromes are reopened. The claim of service connection for a thoracic spine disorder (secondary to right shoulder disability), a cervical spine disorder (secondary to right shoulder disability), chronic fatigue syndrome (secondary to sleep apnea syndromes), and migraines (secondary to cervical spine disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability and its relationship to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being reviewed again, and new medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee conditions have been granted. Service connection has also been established for PTSD, but the claim is denied. The effective date of service connection for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder remains February 5, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA assistance and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.,New evidence has been submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's spine and nerve disabilities due to a worsening of symptoms since his last examination. The TDIU claim is deferred until these examinations are completed.

The Board denied service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical DDD and left knee DJD have been denied. The case is REMANDED to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be further developed, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, National Guard personnel records, and conducting additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical degenerative disc disease and facet and uncinate arthrosis involving C5-C5 and C6-C7, and chronic post-traumatic headache have been dismissed as freestanding claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical degenerative disc disease, and chronic post-traumatic headache remain pending.