Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has found the November 2020 VA addendum opinion inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining an adequate etiological opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and spondylosis of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions are not related to active military service.

The claims for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disability have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues with his claim for cervical spondylosis. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee disability, left knee disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, cervicogenic headaches, and right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for emphysema, heart disability, obstructive sleep apnea, psychiatric disability (including anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), memory loss, right shoulder and cervical spine disability, skin disability, and vertigo. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions on the issues of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected knee and low back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a direct link between these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and lumbar strain due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The issues are now pending for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and hypertension due to service connection issues. The earlier effective date claim is also remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that his symptoms did not warrant such an increase.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee pain syndrome, psychiatric disability including PTSD, and cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the veracity of in-service stressors. The VA will need to verify the alleged stressors and conduct further examinations.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the right knee meniscectomy and granted effective dates of November 25, 2003 for service connection of upper extremity radiculopathies. The cervical strain claim is remanded.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to March 26, 2009 for the grant of service connection for cervical spondylosis with minor canal stenosis and minor cord compression with degenerative arthritis is dismissed.,Your disability rating for cervical spondylosis with minor canal stenosis and minor cord compression with degenerative arthritis remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities. Service connection claims for lumbar spine disability and gastrointestinal disability are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and cervical radiculopathy, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease is denied as the current disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.