Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining outstanding medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to address his service connection and employability claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, knee, and back disabilities have been granted. The initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, and fractured nasal septum has also been increased to 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disorder with neurological manifestations and an initial compensable rating for hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disc disease, degenerative changes, and arthritis are related to service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and analysis to determine the appropriate disability rating for his cervical spine disability, including consideration of radiculopathy and other related conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus in service. The Veteran's current conditions are not presumed to have been incurred during service due to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions. Service connection was denied as the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records from Sinai-Grace Hospital. A VA examination is also required to consider service connection on a direct or presumptive basis.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia and arthritis are found to be related to his military service, while the neck and back disabilities are not.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical spine mechanical strain, lumbosacral spine mechanical strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with musculoligamentous strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with musculoligamentous strain, and right shoulder tendonitis and bursitis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied as final due to lack of appeal within one year of notification.

The Veteran's left and right hip bursitis have been granted initial 20% disability evaluations, but no greater.,The Veteran's lumbar spine strain has been granted an initial 10% disability evaluation, but no greater.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for PTSD and denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for a back and neck condition, as well as service connection for a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and right eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint pain, OSA, headaches, neck disability and right knee disability were denied as they are not related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his request for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder myositis prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and service personnel records, as well as a VA examination for the Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a neck disability, headaches, and Meniere's disease/a disability manifested by dizziness. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, but remanded the underlying claims to the RO for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.