Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities have been denied. The current disability ratings are found to be appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board due to lack of evidence supporting his assertions or current diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis (status-post surgical fusion C3-T1) had its onset during service and is related to his military service. The low back disorder claim will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is secondary to his service-connected cervical disc disease.,However, the Board found no evidence supporting a finding that the degenerative joint disease of the right knee was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, bilateral arm disability, bilateral knee disability (as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability), bilateral foot disability (as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability), obstructive sleep apnea, and GERD. The grants of service connection are based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, as it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities does not render him unemployable due to this condition.

The Board denied all the issues on appeal, including service connection for various conditions and reopening of a claim related to migratory polyarthritis or Reiter's syndrome. The Veteran did not have diagnosed left knee, left ankle, psychiatric, or heart disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his in-service injury, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the maximum rate (SMC(r)(1)) due to service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of all extremities and need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal of all issues listed on the title page, including those related to depression, tinnitus, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, DDD of the cervical spine, sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation with mild left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and residuals of fractured nose. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, but denied service connection for neck and low back disabilities on the basis that they are not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine disorder. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until this matter is resolved.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and bilateral shoulder peripheral neuropathy are not service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral pterygium is denied as there is no evidence of visual impairment, conjunctivitis, or scarring that would warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining inpatient STRs and seeking an opinion from a VA orthopedist regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service or his service-connected right hip and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability has been granted a 20 percent disability rating, the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

Service connection for a right hand/wrist disability is denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or immediately following service.,Service connection for a left hand/wrist disability is denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or immediately following service.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or immediately following service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a cervical spine examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition, cervical spine condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, left upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and radiculopathy. The Board also found that a right ankle disability is not secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and aortic stenosis were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), residuals of a left arm injury with history of cubital tunnel (left arm injury), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and tinea cruris were all service connected. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent.