Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for her service-connected right and left knee disorders, as well as service connection for multiple joint disabilities. The Board has ordered additional examinations to evaluate the severity of her knees and determine if the other claimed conditions are related to her service-connected knee disorders.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional development to clarify his military service in 2001, obtain medical records from Phoenix Pain Medicine, and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and knee disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for traveling nerve pain and cervical spine disease, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bruxism, and a neck disorder secondary to his service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent effective January 31, 2011. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's range of motion in the cervical spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin condition of the scrotal area, but denied service connection for cervical spine disability and right arm numbness as these conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran has a combined rating of 100% for her service-connected disabilities. However, she does not have an employment handicap and has overcome the effects of her vocational impairment due to her service-connected conditions. Therefore, she is not entitled to additional vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, including whether they are related to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be proximately due to his use of NSAIDs for service-connected pes cavus, and thus granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disorder that he believes is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed before this claim can be decided.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbar scoliosis with facet arthrosis and cervical degenerative arthritis were not rated higher than the assigned evaluations from January 24, 2009 to December 19, 2013 and since December 20, 2013 respectively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and gastrointestinal disability have been denied.,New evidence has reopened the claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, cervical spine and bilateral knee conditions are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiners. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several service-connected disabilities and for service connection for additional conditions has been withdrawn. The Veteran's daughter, M.E.W., is recognized as the 'helpless child' of the Veteran for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for cervical spine spondylosis is remanded as the RO has not issued a Statement of the Case (SOC) with respect to this issue. The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating for convalescence due to cervical spine surgery on July 26, 2002 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records.