Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hip, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for loss of energy and fatigue, memory loss, a cervical spine condition, back disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's neck disability is not service-connected as it did not occur in service and there is no evidence of a chronic condition. The current diagnosis is related to an on-the-job injury after separation from service.,The Veteran's basal cell skin cancer was diagnosed many years after service, and the VA examiner concluded that exposure to herbicides during service is not associated with causing this type of skin cancer.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his cervical spine disorder, are granted service connection due to their relationship with his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine. His right and left upper extremity disorders are denied on secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for cervical strain with muscle spasms, dizziness, and bilateral lower extremity circulatory problems are denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or a link to service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction (due to medications), GERD, bronchial asthma, lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the receipt of new evidence not waived by the Veteran.

The claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left hip condition, and left leg and knee condition have all been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability and neuropathy of the right lower extremity, as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disability. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and an increase in tinnitus have been denied.,The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus, as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disorder due to insufficient evidence in the February 2016 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder strain, cervical spine disability (neck pain and stiffness), lumbar spine disability (lower back pain), left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain due to lack of medical documentation of continued care from 1994 to 2012. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

Service connection for COPD is granted. The Veteran's cervical spondylosis is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of chronicity during or within one year after service and noting insufficient medical nexus to establish a link between the current condition and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral lumbar spine disc disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability and cervical brachial plexus syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation from service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between an in-service accident and the current disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and related headaches have been granted service connection, with a 10% disability rating effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since April 1, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions make it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to new evidence submitted by his representative. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records, authorize VA to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records, and request printed copies of medical journal articles from the Veteran’s representative.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disorders due to inadequate reasons and bases in previous decisions. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.