Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is granted a 50% rating prior to May 4, 2016 and denied any higher. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, and left hip disabilities. The right hip disability is still pending as the remand directive regarding its service connection was not completed.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various hand, wrist, and cervical spine conditions due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including neck injury, face and nose injuries with sinus problems, headaches, numbness in fingers, and numbness in feet. The reasons are that the VA examination was inadequate and new examinations are required to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, back disability, and neck disability. The claims for right ear hearing loss and temporary total evaluation are still pending and need further examination and evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, as they are related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder and arm pain, numbness of the left pointer finger, right leg pain, and lumbar spine disability. The claims are also being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis, gouty arthritis, and others. The claims were not granted on a presumptive basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine degenerative changes/disc disease and cluster headaches are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lytic lesions of the cervical spine, left hip, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and skull as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected pain disorder with depression, right knee DJD, cervical spine disability, and migraine headaches with vertigo. The claims of service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and PTSD have also been remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable by December 6, 2009. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted for the period from December 6, 2009 to July 14, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar stenosis, cervical scoliosis (claimed as neck pain), right eye macular scar and hole, and traumatic brain injury.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the hands, a neck disability, gout of the bilateral feet, and headaches. The decision also noted that new evidence submitted since previous decisions did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical condition with cervical spondylosis is service-connected, as it preexisted his period of active duty and did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability and sleep disorder has been withdrawn.,The request to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been granted, but the issue remains remanded due to lack of evidence linking hypertension to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right wrist CTS, and left wrist CTS. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, back, neck, and psychiatric conditions. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and consideration.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for neck disability due to a need for additional medical inquiry and reconsideration under the correct evidentiary standard.