Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The petition to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability is granted. Service connection for a cervical spine disability and sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and cervical spine disability. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current headaches were not due to, or a result of, his in-service headaches but acknowledged a possible link between his service-connected PTSD or cervical spine disabilities and his headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of initial rating for cervical spine disability, service connection for upper extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and neck disabilities due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability, Graves' disease, and posttraumatic stress disorder due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred and no probative medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine due to a lack of recent VA examination records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees, finding that these conditions began during or are etiologically related to an in-service injury from falling out of a truck in July 1980.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and an increased rating for his right knee disability, both currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, but has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability, low back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as pain disorder, is granted. Right ear hearing loss is also granted. However, left ear hearing loss and hyperlipidemia are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, hypertension, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, and joint pain. The decision was based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, prostate cancer, and sarcoidosis with a history of anemia due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The appeal is granted in part as it relates to the cervical spine disability issue.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, muscle weakness and twitching, vitamin D deficiency, and irritable bowel syndrome. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there were no present disabilities related to his in-service injuries or exposures.

The claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is dismissed. The Veteran's cervical spine disability and kidney disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

Entitlement to an earlier effective date of December 30, 2010 for the award of a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted.,For the increased ratings of 30 percent for cervical spine disability and 20 percent for right ulnar neuropathy, entitlement to an earlier effective date than February 15, 2011 is denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for higher disability ratings in multiple conditions, including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disorder was denied in August 2012. The Board has now granted the reopening of this claim and awarded a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities.