Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right hip disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent effective July 26, 2013.,The Veteran's neck disability (orthopedic manifestations) is granted an increased rating of 20 percent before December 11, 2017 and a rating of 30 percent after December 11, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were not processed under the Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Program due to administrative reasons.,The Veteran’s gastroenteritis with IBS is assigned a maximum rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD and neck disability are being remanded for further examination and evaluation. The issue of TDIU is also part of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as separate evaluations for right and left knee instability. The claim for a temporary total rating based on hospitalization in 2010 was also denied. The Veteran's headache disorder was not rated compensably.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service, but needs further examination and opinion.

The Board dismissed all claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's GERD and cervical spine pain are granted service connection. The bilateral foot disability, right shoulder, knee, and ankle scars, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are all granted initial ratings of 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of psychiatric, headache, right eye, left shoulder, and neck disabilities due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and congestive heart failure as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's lower back disability, initially rated as lumbar osteoarthritis, is now rated at 40 percent from May 20, 2014, to December 21, 2017, with a 20 percent rating thereafter for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The left knee strain with shin splints remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and bilateral hip disability have been denied. The appeals are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for osteoarthritis/polyarthritis, cervical spine disability, and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate opinions from VA examinations. Further development is needed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for an extraschedular determination as to whether he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from March 30, 2007 to May 18, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia due to their potential relationship with the Veteran's service-connected back disability. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to her military service or secondary to her service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's neck disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, an orthopedic examination, and consideration of flare-ups.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been granted service connection and a rating of 30 percent.,Prior to December 29, 2006, the Veteran's left shoulder arthritis was rated at 30 percent. After that date, his left shoulder replacement surgery is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims of service connection for these conditions are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for left shoulder disability, back pain, cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and lung disability. The remand requires further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical strain disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 4, 2014. The Board found that the disability does not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating (20%) due to lack of forward flexion of the cervical spine to 30 degrees or less, combined range of motion not greater than 170 degrees, or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour.