Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand four claims for increased ratings due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disabilities are all involved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including GERD, IVDS, left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right sternoclavicular joint injury with rotator cuff tear, and cervical strain, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 8, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervicogenic headaches, right upper extremity neuritis (claimed as radiculopathy), and obstructive sleep apnea, all secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative disease with left radiculopathy (claimed as neck herniated disc C5-C6) and back herniated disc L4-L5 and degenerative disc L5-S1.,Both conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's in-service experiences, including heavy lifting and body strength workouts.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for a neck disability, finding that no formal claim was filed prior to March 22, 2020. The Veteran's attorney raised a CUE motion related to the effective date but the Board does not have jurisdiction over such claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to duty-related injuries during military service. The VA medical opinions are inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset and continuity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety and depression), TBI, and headaches. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and service.,There is no medical evidence showing any in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and a need to consider the effects of medications on the Veteran's functioning.

The Board dismissed all issues of service connection and evaluation for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the remand instructions were not followed and requires additional medical opinions regarding service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity disability. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative changes, finding that the condition originated during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a cervical spine disability is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The appeal regarding the timeliness of the notice of disagreement (NOD) and motion of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) on a January 2014 rating decision is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection and a new examination to assess the severity of the veteran's bruxism.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are not adequate, necessitating further clarification of the medical evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease is related to a vehicle hit improvised explosive device (IED) incident during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete reasoning in the VA provider's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability was aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case needs to be returned for a new advisory medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder) as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes cavus. The decision also remanded the issues of service connection for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine condition, which is related to his service-connected intervertebral disc disease, should be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, as currently diagnosed, is granted. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted. The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease and neck disability are remanded.