Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims should be remanded due to new VA treatment records and the need for new examinations to assess current disability severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee conditions and for service connection for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbosacral spine disorders due to a lack of a VA examination addressing his contentions of continued back pain since service.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran's upper back disability is aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain and/or right elbow arthritis. The VA medical opinion did not address this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and exposure to burn pits during service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, neck disability, low back disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The evidence supports these findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence submitted by him. The AOJ should review this additional evidence and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to the conditions claimed, except for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent from August 12, 2008 forward. His lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthritis is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a fully-informed decision on the service connection claims for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, fibromyalgia, and others. The Veteran's medical history will be reviewed, and further examinations may be conducted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disability is granted, and the appeal regarding his intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine rating is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not begin during service and is not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran was hit by a pallet during reserve service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back and right hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The issues of service connection for left knee, left hip, neck, numbness and weakness of upper extremities, numbness and weakness of lower extremities, and PTSD are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient clarification of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine condition and its relation to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for an adequate medical opinion to determine the severity of his service-connected cervical spine disability and whether it warrants a rating in excess of 20 percent from September 1, 2013.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability and neurological disorder of the lower extremities (claimed numbness of the bilateral feet) is denied.,Effective dates prior to September 18, 2012, for the grant of service connection for cervicalgia, numbness of the left hand, cervicalgia, numbness of the right hand, and migraine headaches are not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and tinnitus disabilities due to medical questions remaining. The AOJ is instructed to arrange for VA examinations in accordance with special procedures for incarcerated Veterans.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities had its onset in service and is granted as service connected. The cervical spine lesion claim, including upper extremity symptoms, remains pending.