Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle, neck, and back disabilities are not related to his active duty service or any other service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity of these conditions within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and the Board finds that TDIU is not warranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher, extra-schedular ratings for cervical spine disability and bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and his migraine disability is rated at 50 percent effective February 1, 2013. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy, DDD cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and DDD cervical spine - left upper extremity, precluded him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders are not related to his military service. The VA medical opinions provided strong evidence against a connection between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current cervical spine, left knee, and left shoulder disorders are related to his service. The VA examiner provided a clear conclusion with a supporting rationale for the GERD and OSA diagnoses.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new medical examination and consideration of his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his military service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy and emphysema, but there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability and an ulcer disease, but reopened these claims. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is not supported by evidence showing a current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service. The remaining claims of service connection for other conditions are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cervical DDD with upper extremity radiculopathy has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The issues of new and material evidence for entitlement to service connection for right and left shoulder conditions have not been withdrawn.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he attributes to his in-service oral surgery. The Board has ordered additional development of private medical records and will consider the claim again after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, preparing an addendum opinion from the October 2016 VA examiner, scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his right knee ACL tear.

The Veteran's bilateral tender calluses are found to have started during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The cervical spine disorder, hypertension, and heart disorder claims are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a nexus with service.

The Veteran's traumatic deviated nasal septum, headaches, and cervical spine disability have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 10% rating for his traumatic deviated nasal septum since March 30, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, conducting current examinations to assess her cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities, and developing the claim for TDIU.

The Board found that there is no basis to establish service connection for a cervical spine disorder, as the medical opinions in the record uniformly indicate that there is no relationship between the cervical spine disability and service. The claim must be denied.