Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine arthritis, finding that there is at least a 50% probability these conditions are related to service. The issue of service connection for bilateral foot disability remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims related to his service-connected lower back disability, a cervical spine disability, and neurological disabilities. The Board has ordered remand for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and issuing an SOC with respect to the issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran's low back disability and neck disability are being evaluated again with new evidence and a more comprehensive examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his active service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied due to lack of direct link to service. New and material evidence has not been submitted.,No effective date prior to July 1, 2011 is granted as the claim was received after that date.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 1, 2011 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.,Radiculopathy of the right upper extremity was initially evaluated as 20 percent disabling effective October 19, 2015. Radiculopathy of the left upper extremity was also rated at 20 percent effective that date.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their etiology. The claims will be reconsidered after the new evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's Hodgkin's lymphoma is service-connected, and the Board finds that his left shoulder, low back, neck, and sciatica disabilities are secondary to his now service-connected Hodgkin's lymphoma.,However, a new VA examination is needed to determine if any of these additional disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as his conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence in order to properly adjudicate his claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, L4-5 and L5-S1, as well as service connection for a cervical spine disorder. His TDIU claim is also before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the Board's analysis and need for additional examinations.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but refers the issue to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirement for a TDIU prior to September 20, 2016. The most probative evidence does not reflect that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bursitis and DDD (also claimed as osteoarthritis) of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine has been denied. The Board found that there is no separate 'bursitis' disorder with symptoms not overlapping or duplicating symptomatology already compensated through service connection, nor would a grant warrant separate service connection for any asserted joint or body part affected.,The Veteran's claim for DDD (also claimed as osteoarthritis) of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine has also been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing onset of such conditions during service, nor are they related to service in any other way.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and providing a VA orthopedic examination to address the current severity of any residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative joint disease. The examiner is also requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any right knee, left shoulder, cervical spine, or lumbar spine disorder is aggravated by the service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder disability, and his left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities did not have onset during active service or within one year of service discharge. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and the Veteran's incarceration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and cervical strain were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of very frequent, prostrating attacks or ankylosis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and cervical spine disorder, finding no evidence of a chronic disability related to active service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered due to undiagnosed illness or military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as well as hypertension secondary to PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to address their etiology.