Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 40 percent, but his claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids, arthritis of the hands and cervical spine and side-effects of medicine (formerly claimed as osteopathic conditions and side-effects of medicine), diverticulitis, herniated esophagus, bilateral cataracts, presbyopia, and thin spots in the retina, hepatitis, umbilical and groin hernias, impotence, allergies, neurological bladder disease, edema of the lower extremities, residuals of a head injury, sexually transmitted disease, residuals of a throat trauma, hypothyroidism, memory loss, benign prostatic hypertrophy. The Veteran's currently diagnosed bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, bilateral wrist disorder (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome), and bilateral foot disorder (other than pes cavus).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for degenerative changes of the cervical spine. The evidence received since September 2007 does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her neck disability, fibromyalgia, and service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU and basic eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his active military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for dizziness remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a combined effects opinion on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is etiologically related to service, and thus granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The knee issues remain pending as a new examination is needed.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast on September 10, 2012 were not for emergency treatment and VA facilities were feasibly available. Therefore, payment or reimbursement is denied.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate follow-up on previous remand instructions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and bipolar disorder) as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, was first manifested in service and is therefore considered to have been incurred therein. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied. The Board notes that the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding entitlement to an effective date earlier than February 12, 2009, for the grant of service connection for bursitis of the right elbow and osteomyelitis, to include on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, herniated cervical disk, and herniated thoracolumbar disk are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from SSA, the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Schwartzman, Dr. Ford (Columbia Presbyterian Hospital), Dr. Waters, Dr. Depolo, and Dr. Rhee.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The matter is remanded for further adjudication.