Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current back disability to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee, back, and neck disabilities are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal primarily concerns ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, GERD, neck and low back disabilities, radiculopathies, acne scarring, circumcision residuals, and chicken pox. The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to increased ratings in some cases but not others.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the RO has granted a compensable rating for headaches associated with cervical strain and service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot.

The Veteran's left eye scar, neck disability, bilateral rib disorder, and deviated septum were not found to be related to service.,Service connection for dental treatment purposes was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be addressed again after this development is completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was granted effective December 2, 2009. The effective date has been extended to include his prior claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis requires aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on this condition.

The Board has ordered a new examination and opinion to address the Veteran's spine disorders, including his lay statements of continuous symptoms since service discharge, multiple service records noting lumbar spine symptoms after a November 1969 car accident, and VA treatment notes. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether each diagnosed cervical, thoracic, and/or lumbar spine disorder had onset in or is otherwise caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disability during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant ship logs from the USS Wisconsin and any outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinea pedis (foot fungus), cervical degenerative disc disease, a back condition, and hand fungus have all been denied. The Veteran does not meet the threshold criteria for a current disability in any of these conditions as per VA regulations.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective February 12, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating based on limitation of motion but not ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical intervertebral disc syndrome and left upper extremity radiculopathy have not met the criteria for higher initial ratings under either the General Rating Formula or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain with spondylosis is related to his in-service neck injury, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of bilateral knee disability, right wrist disability, DDD of the cervical spine, and right 5th finger disability. The evidence received since the July 1997 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's cervical stenosis and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities are found to be related to his military service.,His lumbar degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent, effective March 12, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the case for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's neck disability is secondary to his service-connected lower back disability, and if so, whether it is aggravated by that condition.

The Board has ordered further development of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The issues include bilateral knee disability, upper back disability, hypertension, and PTSD.