Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hypertension and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The Veteran's TBI, headaches, left knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder are denied.,Service connection is granted for hypertension and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. Service connection is denied for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, a left knee disorder, and a cervical spine disorder.

The Board previously denied service connection for DJD of the cervical spine, but a remand is required due to an inaccurate factual premise in the December 2016 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claims for workers' compensation and must be remanded to obtain relevant records. Additionally, he needs medical examinations or opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, left hip and shoulder disabilities, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, and right knee disabilities as they are not related to the Veteran's in-service automobile accident or his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis. The cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran’s left upper extremity disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 30 percent for his cervical spine disability prior to June 28, 2016. The Board found that the evidence showed limited forward flexion in the cervical spine during flare-ups but not ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board found that the submitted evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various conditions, including PTSD, cervicalgia, vitiligo, and chronic idiopathic urticaria, have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of the appellant's cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 9, 2013 for service connection of hypertension and recurrent major depressive disorder are being remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC). The remaining issues related to his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, hip disabilities, heel disabilities, and cyst on the buttocks are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected cervical spine disability was remanded because the date of use of his back brace is unclear and he may not have used it by August 1, 2015.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluation claims due to his withdrawal of those appeals during a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for mechanical low back pain and peripheral vestibular disorders (dizziness) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic oral antral sinus fistula.,Service connection was not granted for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine condition. The rating for the cervical spine condition is restored from December 6, 2012.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, neck, and skin disabilities. The low back disability is presumed related to service due to continuity of symptoms since service. The neck disability is presumed related to service as arthritis developed during the first post-service year. The skin disability is presumed related to service as a fungal infection affecting hands in service persisted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability, dizziness, and headaches. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as cervical spinal stenosis, degenerative joint disease, and cervical strain, originated in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right eye impairment, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and lumbar spine spondylosis, status post surgeries due to procedural issues with the March 2009 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining medical records related to the Veteran's receipt of Tennessee State disability benefits.