Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral testicle disability. Service connection is remanded for lumbar strain and cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's cervical spine disability or left side numbness are related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support the Veteran’s claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his military service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and there is no evidence of an extraschedular rating on appeal. The Board finds that the Veteran is capable of performing light, sedentary occupational activities despite his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for neck disability, back disability, and left ankle arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's testimony indicates that his current disabilities may be related to service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including right ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and depression as secondary to other service-connected disabilities. Effective May 13, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disorders have been rated appropriately.

Your claims for increased ratings for cervicalgia and arthritis, low back pain are being remanded to allow the VA to consider all new evidence.

The Veteran's fibroids with menometrorrhagia are not rated higher than 0 percent as they do not require continuous treatment. The cervical spine disorder, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PST) secondary to service-connected hypertension, and TMJ are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding no causal relationship to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine and cervical spine are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities of the right leg.

The Veteran's service connection claim for non-Hodgkins lymphoma as secondary to Camp Lejeune exposure is granted. The claims for cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for low back disability is also remanded. The TDIU claim is raised by the record and must be addressed as well.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical radiculopathy may be service-connected as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee and low back disabilities, but an addendum opinion is needed to determine if there is aggravation of the cervical radiculopathy due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral ankle disability, and tinnitus due to the absence of VA treatment records from 2001 to the present. These records are needed to make a determination on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is denied.

The Veteran's facial scars have been rated as noncompensable due to the absence of characteristics of disfigurement or pain. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.,Several service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left hip disability, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, neurological disabilities of the buttocks and lower extremities, chronic pain, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment prior to January 15, 2009, and he is therefore not entitled to TDIU during that period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and GERD, but has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss issue is also being remanded.