Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is service-connected and rated at 20 percent. The right ankle and right foot disabilities are both rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's left hip strain is not productive of flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, extension limited to 5 degrees, ankylosis, limitation of rotation, limitation of adduction, limitation of abduction, flail joint, malunion or fracture of the femur, or the functional equivalent thereof.,The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is productive of flexion limited to 60 degrees or less but not of incapacitating episodes totalling at least 4 weeks per year, ankylosis, forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, combined range of motion limited to 170 degrees or less, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour, or the functional equivalent thereof.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not productive of incapacitating episodes, ankylosis, forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, combined range of motion limited to 170 degrees or less, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour, or the functional equivalent thereof.,The Veteran's right elbow disability is productive of pronation motion lost beyond the last quarter of arc, but it is not productive of pronation motion lost beyond the middle of arc, ankylosis, flexion limited to 100 degrees or less, extension limited to 45 degrees or more, fracture with deformity, ununited fracture, a flail joint, malunion, nonunion, bone fusion, or the functional equivalent thereof.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his employment status and the need for further development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA opinion on the impact of service-connected disabilities on employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Ischemic Heart Disease, cervical radiculitis, ulnar radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities) preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and work background since January 1, 2013. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his cervical spine disability and to determine if there are any incapacitating episodes in the past 12 months.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her cervical strain, right upper extremity disability (other than cervical radiculopathy), and asthma claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis has been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is pending. The Board has not addressed this issue in the current decision.,Service connection for a cervical spine condition is denied as there is no evidence of an injury or disease incurred during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current cervical spine condition is related to service.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development and an additional VA examination to address whether any new disabilities are related to VA treatment, including alcohol use.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, headaches, right median neuropathy, and left ulnar and median neuropathy. The Veteran's complaints of these conditions during service and their continuity since separation from service are credible.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 9, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further action regarding his claims of increased ratings and TDIU prior to October 9, 2014. The Board will refer the issues of extraschedular evaluations and referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability and prostatitis are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for the Veteran's neurological manifestations of his cervical spine disability, effective from when the claim was filed.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his scars of the right forearm and hand, as well as his cervical spine condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals regarding the reopening of his service connection claims for cervical spine, left toe, right toe, bilateral hearing loss, and left elbow disabilities. The Board also did not find new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a left thigh disability. Effective dates were not assigned due to lack of credible lay or medical evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine torticollis is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.