Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and notification, including providing clarification of a January 8, 2018 notification letter. The Veteran must be provided specific correspondence addressing his January 2018 and October 2020 inquiries and clarification of the aforementioned notice letter.

The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica is granted as service connected, with the Board finding it likely caused by his service-connected lumbar spine DDD and cervical spine spondylosis. The other issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to a motorcycle accident during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for 11th cranial nerve dysfunction and degenerative changes of the cervical spine were remanded by the Board.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation from September 23, 2014, or an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from March 1, 2018, for 11th cranial nerve dysfunction. The Veteran's cervical spine disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent from September 23, 2014, or an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted an increased rating of 30 percent prior to August 23, 2019.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the cervical spine disability since August 23, 2019, and a separate rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy were denied.

The Board has remanded several cases involving the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with spurring and status post chondroplasty, recurrent subluxation of the right knee, postoperative cervical fusion with Brown-Sequard syndrome prior to July 6, 2018, and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied an increased rating for cervical spine degenerative changes at C4-C6 and service connection for hernia to include as secondary to the service-connected disability of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and a cervical spine condition, have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's unauthorized non-VA medical expenses for emergency treatment on August 11, 2015 are granted as his neck pain was of such a nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee and hand disorders due to incomplete development of records.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative changes with stenosis, finding that the current condition is not related to service due to lack of evidence showing chronicity or a link between in-service injuries and the current disability.

The Veteran's neck disability, left arm disability, right arm disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability are all related to his military service. The VA has remanded these issues for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's neck disability, LUE PN, RUE PN, LLE PN, and RLE PN as they may be connected to his MOS and exposure to Benzene.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and epidermal inclusion cysts on back disabilities. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and cervical spine condition are both remanded for further examination and opinion. The rating for the lumbar spine disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability does not prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete records, including VA treatment records from before 2010 and private medical records from various providers. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.