Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervicalgia with osteoarthritis, stenosis and spondylosis (claimed as neck injury, to include pain) should be remanded due to insufficient evidence of a link between his current condition and service.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for degenerative changes of the cervical spine with spondylosis and IVDS was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings and earlier effective dates has been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations are appropriate, and no new evidence was presented to warrant a change in the existing ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment from February 16, 2011 to April 24, 2013. The Board granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment from February 16, 2011 to April 24, 2013. The Board granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) during this period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, finding that it is etiologically related to his military service, specifically a motor vehicle accident in August 1973.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability. However, it denied the claims for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability as there is no positive nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities. The VA examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion on this issue.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for neck disability, low back disability, right hip DJD with limitation of flexion, and left wrist fracture. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome or other criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service. The Veteran contends that he injured his neck in January 1994, but there are incomplete records and no clear evidence of a connection between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right wrist sprain and osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating under DC 5214. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed to be insufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate examination. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being reviewed again for proper evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40% and 20%, respectively, effective February 24, 2012. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury or disease. The evidence showed no compensable degree of degenerative joint disease within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology was not established.,The Board also denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, concluding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during service and is not related to his in-service injury or disease.

The appeal seeking service connection for fatigue and dizziness is dismissed. Service connection for a disability productive of bilateral lower extremity pain and numbness, to include bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and neurogenic claudication, secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues related to service connection for GERD, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral ankle pain. Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability (neck pain) but denied for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hand and finger pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, hip pain, and shoulder pain.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss. The right shoulder and neck disabilities are remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, anxiety disorder with panic attacks, TMJ as secondary to psychiatric disability, right ankle disorder, thyroid disorder, eye disorder, high lipid count, and weight gain has been granted. The rating assigned is 70 percent for depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left tibia and fibula disabilities prior to June 13, 2014 were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.