Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is being remanded for further examination and development as the current evidence does not provide a clear opinion on its etiology.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, claimed as a neck disorder. The Veteran's PTSD remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disabilities are not related to her service, including her service-connected left and right central band plantar fascia tears. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, with a separate rating of 10 percent for neurological symptoms. The right shoulder disability was initially denied but later granted as 30 percent disabling effective October 27, 2009. The left leg disability remains at 20 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fatigue, joint pain and myalgia are not due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The symptoms are more likely related to his diagnosed conditions such as cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, wrist disability, diabetes with neuropathy, PTSD, and fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chronic lumbosacral pain, finding that it is related to an injury in service. The remaining issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, cardiovascular disability, and left knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders, as well as the severity of service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is related to his in-service neck injury, and affords him the benefit of doubt.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diagnosed conditions of bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, a bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, or a bilateral knee disorder. The cervical spine disorder is also denied as it was not caused by service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, conducting a combined examination to assess his need for aid and attendance of another due to service-connected disabilities, and ensuring that all issues are properly addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative arthritis or cervical spine strain with degenerative changes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, obesity, skin disability, low back and neck disabilities, Meniere's disease, heart disability, emphysema, PTSD, bronchitis, genitourinary disability, acid peptic disease, eye infections, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for malnourishment and a neck disability have been denied. The claim for skin disability remains pending as the evidence is insufficient to establish a current disability or its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and the provision of a new opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability and left arm disability that he contends are secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The VA will provide further examination and opinion on these issues.,The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability. The VA will provide further examination and opinion on the severity of this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be decided, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) due to outstanding records and potential relevance to his claim. The AOJ will attempt to obtain any additional evidence pertinent to the claim on appeal, including private medical treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from Fort Campbell and Camp Blanding. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and neck disabilities are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and a cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure. The cervical spine disability claim was also denied as there is no indication of arthritis during or within the presumptive period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis (other than the right ankle and cervical and lumbar spine) has been denied. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability remains pending, as does the claim for service connection for a digestive disorder, claimed as GERD.