Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, resection of a pulmonary sarcoma with loss of right lung function, cervical spine disability, cardiovascular disability, and anemia.,New evidence submitted since the final denial of these claims suggests that each condition is related to service.

The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for left and right groin disabilities, hypertension and headache disabilities (secondary to service-connected lumbosacral spondylosis and degenerative disk disease), right ankle disability, left ankle disability, acquired psychiatric disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, right knee disability, and neck disability.,Further development is needed for these issues.

The Board has remanded cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and related neurological disabilities. The issues of service connection remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral plantar wart disability and neck disability.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current chronic headache disability, and his right and left knee disabilities are not related to in-service injuries.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with current cervical, lumbar, and bilateral knee disabilities. However, these conditions were not shown during service or within one year of separation. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have a chronic headache disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and headaches, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's neck disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied, with the effective date being October 11, 2013.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for back and neck pain is granted. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder other than degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine (spinal stenosis with epidural lipomatosis) is also granted. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disorder remains pending.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, which may be related to service or caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a neck disability service connection is granted. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with strain status post fusion, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left knee arthritis, leg length discrepancy, chronic right ankle sprain with avulsion fracture and Morton’s neuroma, scar, anterior neck, nonlinear surgical scar, right shoulder, surgical scars, right shoulder, tension headaches, right inguinal neuropathy, status post inguinal hernia repair, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with mood disorder, and bruxism with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the Veteran has a cervical spine disability, left eye retina detachment, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, hand, back, foot, groin, and upper/lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as depression. The appeals are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 1, 2014 for a compensable rating for his cervical spinal fracture. The evidence did not show any limitation of motion prior to July 1, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right Achilles tendonitis, a cervical spine disability, a left foot cellulitis, right fourth and fifth toe cellulitis, a sleep disability, and headaches. The evidence did not support current disabilities or establish a link to service.