Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, lumbosacral spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder, meet the criteria for a TDIU. The combined rating is 80 percent.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, low back pain, and neck pain claims were granted. The Veteran's headaches and bilateral shoulder problems/disability claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and myasthenia gravis were not incurred or aggravated in service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are more likely age-related or related to a 2000 injury rather than service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, big toe, shoulder, cervical spine, left knee, and skin disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset or causation in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder at the L4-L5 level, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is found to be related to his active service, while his cervical spine disorder is not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PUD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not show a disability picture more nearly approximating moderate or higher for these conditions.

The Veteran's right upper extremity neurological impairment associated with his cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records of periods of ACDUTRA and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased evaluations in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, L3-L4 and L5-S1, with mechanical low back pain, and degenerative disc disease and facet degenerative joint disease, multi-levels of cervical spine.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) is rated at 30 percent effective from July 29, 2005. He also receives a separate rating of 10 percent for headaches secondary to his DDD.,Starting from October 2012, the Veteran's left arm radiculitis is rated at 40 percent and starting from February 16, 2016, it is rated at 70 percent. His left shoulder degenerative joint disease with history of thoracic outlet syndrome is rated at 30 percent effective from July 29, 2005.,The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU as of October 2012.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities, and based on his work experience and education, he is unemployable. The VA examiner concluded that the severity of the multiple service-connected disabilities render the Veteran incapable of obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including cervical strain, tension headaches, right hip disability, and right hand disability. The Board has determined that additional examination and opinion are needed to address the relationship between these disabilities and active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disorders are likely exacerbated by his service-connected thoracic injury with Scheuermann's disease, compression fractures of T-9 and T-10, with wedging deformities, T7-T9. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a left hand injury, sinus condition, hypertension, hepatitis C, and headaches. The claim for service connection of neck disability was granted but with mixed results (some issues were granted while others were not).

The Veteran's current headaches are related to his service-connected cervical spine strain and left shoulder degenerative joint disease, which is considered secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are the result of injuries sustained during his military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including arthritis, is found to be service-connected. The Veteran's GERD with duodenitis is granted an increased rating to 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, claimed as a twisted neck, did not begin during service and is unrelated to military service. The appeal for this issue of service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spines, arthralgia of the right knee, peripheral artery disease, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.