Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU from December 18, 2018. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 18, 2018 is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability in the right ear, and left ear hearing loss was rated at 0 percent. Hypertension, GERD, cervical spine degenerative joints with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine herniated nucleus pulpous with radiculitis down posterior leg, right knee effusion/degenerative changes, left knee degenerative changes, and OSA were not granted increased ratings or service connection.

The Board has not obtained all requested VA treatment records for the Veteran's cervical spine and right hip disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including left supraspinatus tendinopathy and AC joint arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The rating for the left arm impairment due to disk extrusion at C6-7 of the cervical spine has been increased to 60 percent effective October 23, 2006.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability (left supraspinatus tendinopathy and AC joint arthritis) is currently rated at 20 percent. The rating for left shoulder AC joint arthritis prior to May 1, 2021 has been decreased to noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding whether the cervical spine disorder is caused or aggravated by a postoperative right inguinal hernia. The VA needs to obtain new addendum opinions on this issue.

The Veteran's cervical strain, left ear hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee condition (left and right), and bilateral shoulder condition have all been granted service connection with a 10% rating for the cervical strain.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted service connection. The appeal for bilateral lower extremities peripheral neuropathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 1, 2014. The Board has granted an earlier effective date for a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and HTN, as well as a rating of 40 percent for cervical spine radiculopathy. The issues related to ED were withdrawn by the Veteran. Effective dates prior to May 8, 2014, for the grant of service connection with an evaluation of 10 percent for right upper extremity (RUE) and RLE radiculopathy were denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the Board issuing a final decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the appeals for service connection for neck, right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The appeal for hypertension is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in connection with these claims were inadequate and remanded for further development. The Veteran's hip, shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are being reviewed again to determine their severity since October 1, 2002.

The Board has denied service connection for an eye disability, a psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine disability, a left hip disability, and a right hip disability. The Veteran's claim for a headache disability is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no medical evidence linking them to active service.

The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's joint pain, gastrointestinal disorder, fatigue, and headaches are due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's ulcerative colitis is related to in-service exposure to environmental hazards or otherwise related to service.,The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's fatigue is due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to in-service TBI or otherwise related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right hand wrist strain and left hand wrist strain are related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's disability of the left hand fingers and disability of the right hand fingers are related to service.,The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service.,The RO combined the rating for residuals of concussion with PTSD. The Board finds that a separate rating for residuals of concussion should be considered in light of the Veteran's reported overuse injury and repetitive motion stemming from his service duties.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disability and PTSD due to incomplete records, conflicting opinions, and need for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability (including as secondary to a low back disability), left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their onset and relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to military service or his service-connected low back disability.