Neck / cervical spine — all decisions

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), variously diagnosed as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and panic disorder.

The Board granted service connection for atopic dermatitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and dextroscoliosis, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board dismissed all issues as a matter of law due to a procedural defect in the Veteran's February 2023 VA Form 10182s, which attempted to concurrently elect multiple review options.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and acquired psychiatric disabilities, to include GAD claimed as PTSD-anxiety, due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, bilateral hand tremors, and bilateral restless leg syndrome. The Board also granted an increased rating of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claims for additional development, specifically to obtain addendum medical opinions assessing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and right knee in terms of functional loss with weight bearing and passive motion.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and left shoulder conditions based on the evidence showing that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for osteomyelitis, a back disability, and a neck disability as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service or presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability since July 1, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings, except for restoring a 30 percent disability rating for right knee strain and a 20 percent disability rating for left knee strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or a higher rating under other criteria.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and left pes planus, but denied service connection for cervical disc herniation at C5-C6 level with posterior disc protrusion and Bell's palsy.

The Board remands the claim for a cervical spine disability to obtain an additional medical opinion, as the previous VA examination was found inadequate.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for cervical strain with myositis effective July 14, 2016. The claims for increased ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder and hepatitis C were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and a skin disability but granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica) as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain and an initial 10 percent disability rating for essential tremors.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for chest pain, hypertension, neck disability, wrist disability, and chronic fatigue due to untimely appeals.

The Board denied service connection for irregular sleep/wake rhythm and granted service connection for left shoulder trapezius strain, while remanding claims for cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, IVDS with strain of muscle and tendon of back wall of thorax, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, to include trochanteric bursitis, and nevus.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied a compensable rating for the head scar associated with traumatic brain injury. The claims for increased ratings were remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities and a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.