Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran is seeking higher disability ratings for his service-connected mental health and musculoskeletal conditions. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these disabilities, as well as obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent effective August 1, 2011. He also received separate ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to the cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder may be related to an injury in service, but the Board needs additional medical opinions to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claims for other conditions. The effective dates assigned were December 20, 2010.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining sick and morning reports from the National Personnel Records Center, securing records related to the Veteran's Workman's Compensation claim following a plane crash in 1984, and providing an opinion regarding whether his back disability is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for marginal bone spurring and spina bifida of the cervical spine, and a skin disorder due to circumcision. However, it is unclear whether these issues will be granted as new evidence does not necessarily mean they are material or sufficient to reopen the claim.

The Veteran was granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and residuals of a fracture of the right great toe with degenerative joint disease, effective March 18, 2010. The rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of outstanding treatment records. The issues include rating his spine disabilities and determining if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board found insufficient evidence linking his neck or low back disabilities to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back, neck, and shoulder disabilities are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his neck disability and major depression, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent for the neck disability or an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depression.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 16, 2014 and increased to 20 percent since that date.,For the right foot, a separate 10 percent rating is assigned for hallux rigidus with degenerative arthritis. For the left foot, a 10 percent rating is assigned for degenerative arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any cervical disability and the current severity of service-connected myositis and costochondritis. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings will also be considered.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for cervical spine disc bulging, C3-4 has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for panic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder remains unresolved.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of service, and are not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities or sciatica of the lower extremities.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of service, and are not otherwise related to service.,After affording the benefit of the doubt, a current headache disability is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, quadriparesis, transverse myelitis and degenerative changes in the cervical spine, transverse myelitis and moderate degenerative changes at T11-T12, neurogenic bowel, and neurogenic bladder, all of which are related to a severe motor vehicle accident sustained during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spondylosis were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.