Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a neck disability is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted by a January 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's headaches, left and right elbow disabilities, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were evaluated for the period prior to July 10, 2015. The Board found that a compensable rating was not warranted for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as they were characterized by non-prostrating attacks and did not impact his ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, the neck disorder and back disorder were not related to service or a service-connected condition, the right shoulder disorder and left hip disorder were also not related to service or a service-connected condition, and the umbilical hernia was not listed among diseases for which presumptive service connection applies. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the threshold for entitlement.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including examinations to assess his spine, skin, and knee conditions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches, back and neck disabilities, hypertension, and abdominal disability are not service-connected as they are either not related to his military service or were pre-existing conditions exacerbated by service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be service-connected, and the lumbar spine DDD with sciatic radiculopathy is not considered caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening her service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral and cervical spine conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cervical spine strain, residuals of a fractured mandible, and depression. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10% prior to September 29, 2016 and increased to 30% thereafter. The current rating of 30% is maintained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, and thus no effective dates can be assigned.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, low back, and left hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and his service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection for various conditions, including frontal sinus osteoma, head trauma, headaches, chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, GERD, and others. The claim of tinea pedis was also withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service and if not, whether it was permanently worsened by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The headaches claim is deferred pending this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, cervical strain, and residuals of labral tear of the right shoulder do not warrant higher initial ratings as their symptoms have not met or approximated criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus type II, or cervical spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck and low back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to any service-connected conditions.,The Veteran was previously granted a TDIU prior to July 19, 2017, due to his service-connected PTSD. However, as of this decision, the Veteran's combined rating is now at 80% and includes other service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension), which may allow for a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.