Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, and the Veteran's other claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, increased ratings for neck and low back disabilities, and earlier effective dates for radiculopathy of the arms and legs are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted as his condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck disability, cervical radiculopathy, and left knee disability. The reasons given were that the evidence did not show a nexus between these disabilities and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of cervical stenosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus for further development due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including radiculopathy. The TDIU issue is also under consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected, while hyperglycemia and cervical spine disability are denied. Diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea were not diagnosed during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, and low back disability. The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain and cervical spondylosis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the appellant's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, neck, back, ankle, and foot conditions, made it impossible for him to engage in substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board granted a TDIU on an accrued basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chest pain and costochondritis was denied as it is not of service origin.,Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to obtain a Statement of the Case on claims for clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in rating decisions, obtain VA treatment records from October 2018 forward, arrange for VA examinations to assess cervical spondylosis with disc protrusion, neurological disabilities of the upper extremities, and TDIU claim, and readjudicate the service connection, disability ratings, and effective date claims.

All appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as cervical spine disability, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot condition (claimed as gout), acid reflux disease, migraines, and hypertension. The Veteran was not granted any increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are causing him to need assistance with activities of daily living, and he requests a VA examination to determine if he qualifies for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate. The Board has determined that further evaluation is needed due to the passage of over three years since his last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and myasthenia gravis disabilities are related to his military service.