Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of various disabilities, including sleep apnea, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, chronic sinusitis, stress incontinence, residuals from cervical biopsies, and alopecia.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the Gulf War.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU as of February 28, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lower extremity disability as secondary to low back disability, right and left knee disabilities, special monthly compensation based on housebound status or need for aid and attendance of another person, and a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing. The claims are being remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations assessing the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, right clavicle disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and right wrist CTS. Service connection for a neck injury and a bilateral leg disability is also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disability and neurological disabilities of the upper extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, along with her bilateral cervical radiculopathy, has rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since March 18, 2004. The Board also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) for the periods from January 31, 2007 to May 1, 2007 and from September 18, 2008 to present.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that his disorders were aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disorder. The effective date is not specified.

This case involves multiple claims for service connection, all denied. The Veteran contends that there was clear and unmistakable error in the September 1993 rating decisions denying his claims for cervical strain, right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, hypertension with stage 3 chronic kidney disease and renal insufficiency, and degenerative changes of lumbosacral spine. The Board found that there was no CUE in these decisions.,Reasoning: The Veteran's arguments were based on the interpretation of his service treatment records showing injuries sustained during service. However, the Board determined that the RO did not commit CUE as the correct facts were available and correctly applied the laws at the time.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a bilateral shoulder disability and cervical spine disability due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions. The Veteran contends that her disabilities are related to service, specifically wearing a radio backpack while on guard duty.

The Veteran's GERD is granted with an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher.,VA examinations are needed to assess the severity of his cervical strain and right ankle disorder due to lack of information regarding functional limitations during flare-ups. The VA examiner must also provide opinions on whether these disorders are related to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and major depressive disorder need further evaluation by a VA examiner to determine their etiology and relationship to service-connected conditions.,VA examinations are needed to assess the nature of the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including its relation to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the date of entitlement and his employment history during the relevant period.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral elbow, wrist/arm, cervical spine, and knee disabilities, as well as hypertension and GERD. The Veteran's PTSD was also not found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the legal definition of a 'veteran' for VA compensation purposes due to lack of active service, and therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claims for right foot, left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, low back, right knee, and left knee disorders have all been denied as they are not service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for neck/cervical spine disorder, neurological disorder of the left upper extremity, and neurological disorder of the right upper extremity as there was no evidence that these conditions were related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including PTSD and TBI residuals, were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability during the appeal period.

The Board has restored the 20 percent disability rating for cervical disc disease and neuroforaminal stenosis, effective November 18, 2014.