Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and PTSD were dismissed as the claims have been resolved by full grant of benefits.,The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, previously claimed as PTSD, was also dismissed.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's periods of Reserve service and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of various conditions.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability has caused and/or aggravated his radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities. Service connection for these conditions will be granted if found to be warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, polysubstance use disorder, neck and back disabilities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is rated at 40 percent since August 12, 2004. Her cervical strain is also rated at 40 percent since the same date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate etiology opinions and a need for new evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, which is currently considered secondary to service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 5, 2020 and at 30 percent beginning February 5, 2020. The rating for IVDS with ulnar nerve involvement of the upper extremities remains at 10 percent.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated based on symptoms such as pain and stiffness without ankylosis or other severe functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely due to an injury sustained during active duty training (ACDUTRA) in July 1961. The claim was reopened based on new evidence linking the current disability to this incident.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headache disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected schizoaffective disorder and/or cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and COPD are being remanded due to incomplete personnel records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the proximate cause of his additional disabilities and whether an unforeseeable event occurred during VA referral.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination reports regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, and radiculopathy disabilities. The Veteran must be scheduled for new examinations.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors for all the claims on appeal, including the increased rating claim for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with cervical radiculopathy of the left. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, low back, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine condition, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and sleep apnea due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and opinions provided.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for back disability, bilateral foot disability, and leg disability due to lack of evidence showing he is in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently bedridden.

The Veteran's neck disorder is being remanded for further development as the VA medical opinion did not address his lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's left leg numbness is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claims for increased initial ratings for the service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's headaches associated with TBI are granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent. The claim for entitlement to TDIU is also granted. The claims for service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities have been withdrawn.