Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his cervical spine condition and anxiety and depression, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected residuals of a fractured right zygoma, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for numbness and tingling in the arms and hands as secondary to degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine was granted, while his claim for sleep apnea was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing and issuing a statement of the case on increased rating and earlier effective date issues.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he claims is related to an in-service injury. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional records and medical opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 30 percent from October 9, 2007 to February 9, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder, cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA examination of his psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability, neurologic abnormality of the left upper extremity, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, lumbar strain, and cervical spine disability have been granted. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a neck disability, including as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Board finds that further development is necessary due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between the current neck condition and any in-service event.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea, bowel dysfunction, cervical spine disability, thoracic and lumbar degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee disability were not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders cannot be granted as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected rebound headaches are rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to their nature and frequency.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, arthritis, and acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression are all found to be related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted an initial 20 percent rating effective June 1, 2013. His Raynaud's Phenomena of the right and left hands were also granted a compensable (10 percent) rating effective December 29, 2015.

The Veteran's headaches, gastrointestinal disability, and cervical spine (neck) disability are found to be related to his service-connected mental health disabilities. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder and cervical spine, as well as his claims to reopen his chronic back disability and right knee disability. The decision is mixed, with some issues granted and others not.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a skin disorder other than pseudofolliculitis barbae and tinea cruris, nor any cervical spine disorder. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.