Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions provided by VA. The case will be returned for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and upper back disability are not due to his active-duty service. The claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and other disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities due to lack of medical evidence showing a relationship with service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition or link to service. The claim for memory loss is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is remanded due to the need for further examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hip disability is dismissed as the benefit was granted in a January 2020 rating decision.,Claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of 20 percent for back and bilateral lower extremity disabilities are denied. The Veteran did not have these conditions prior to February 10, 2015.,Service connection is denied for neck disability as there is no evidence it was incurred or caused by service-connected conditions.,Increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for back and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are remanded. The Veteran's current effective date is February 10, 2015.,Service connection is denied for sleep apnea and asthma as there is no evidence they were incurred or caused by service-connected conditions.,Increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for right knee disability and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are remanded.

The appeal regarding the low back disability is dismissed. Service connection for cervical spine and upper extremity disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion and a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected cervical strain with spondylosis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and clarification of the extent of his functional loss during flare-ups and on repeated use.

The Board has found that the Veteran's neck disability is not secondary to service-connected foot disabilities and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury. The low back disability claim is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and provide a supplemental medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of each disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he requested to withdraw his claims for spleen disability and right knee scar.,The claim for service connection for OSA has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and potential SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran is also required to undergo further medical examinations related to his knee, hip, back, neck, arthritis, foot, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, eye, lung, and hearing loss conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to issues related to service connection, increased rating, and TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified reaction to severe stress and depression, is granted as service connected. The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied due to lack of verified in-service stressor. Service connection for a right knee disorder is denied because the preexisting condition did not worsen during service. Service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders are also denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's lower back and cervical spine disabilities are service-connected, as claims for secondary service connection have also been raised.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disorder is granted. The claims of increased ratings for arthrosis post left knee medial meniscus tear, lumbar degenerative disc disease with left sciatica, and left lumbar radiculopathy are remanded. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded. His claim of an increased rating for anxiety, NOS is remanded as well. Finally, his TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, cervical spine disability, low back disability, and right hip disability must be remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional evidence.