Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient information in previous examinations.,Further examination and clarification are needed before a decision can be made on this matter.

Service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical strain is denied and set at July 12, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for his service connection claims due to lack of timely appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence and an internal inconsistency in the November 2016 VA examination report.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a cervical spine disability is granted. The Board also remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from May 26, 2011. The TDIU was initially denied in March 2009 due to failure to report for VA examination and later reconsidered in April 2013 when the Veteran reported for a VA examination showing he could not work due to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

Service connection for MUCMI and an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with stressor-related disorder are granted. The Veteran's symptoms include social isolation, anxious affect and mood, chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, hypervigilance, anxiety, suspiciousness, difficulty focusing, and suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spondylosis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder and PTSD, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between the current disabilities and service.,Service connection was denied for cervical spondylosis due to lack of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms post-service. For the acquired psychiatric disorders, there was no verified in-service stressor and the Veteran's diagnoses were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral pes cavus with bilateral heel spurs, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, posterior thigh muscle (muscle group XIII), hypertension, inguinal hernia, kidney stones, and generalized anxiety disorder. The claims will be reconsidered in light of the additional evidence received since the April and May 2016 Supplemental Statements of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal of cervical spine osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease was dismissed. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for brain cancer (undiagnosed illness), migraines (undiagnosed illness and/or secondary to brain cancer), and bilateral leg numbness (undiagnosed illness and/or secondary to brain cancer).

The Board has determined that the VA examinations regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability are inadequate and remanded for further action. Additionally, a TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's spouse was added as a dependent to his VA disability compensation award effective September 1, 2001.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development and need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left knee disability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence associated with lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for memory loss, sleep disability, arm disability, and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity. The Veteran's memory loss is not considered a separate disability from his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as service-connected.,Prior to September 15, 2014, a 10 percent rating for hemorrhoids is granted. From September 15, 2014 onwards, the rating remains at 10 percent.,Service connection for left knee disability is granted.,A 20 percent rating for post-operative right hydrocele is granted from the date of examination (September 2014).,The cervical spine (neck) disability is remanded for further evaluation.,Cystitis cystica is remanded for a VA urologist's opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current cervical spine, right shoulder, right ankle and right knee disorders and his service. The VA is required to provide a new examination for each disorder.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, as well as bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and lower extremity neuropathy. The evidence did not show any in-service injuries or diseases related to these conditions.