Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including neck disability, right and left knee disabilities, tinnitus, systemic arterial hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), kidney stones, and a skin condition on scalp. The reasons include unclear relationships to service due to conflicting statements from the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the Veteran's widow, as her appeal is no longer in a jurisdictional state.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate or insufficient examinations in the record.

The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease involving the cervical spine is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for asthma remains pending due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative joint disease is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or an applicable presumption period.,For the entire period on appeal, the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip degenerative joint disease limited extension are not met.,Throughout the period on appeal, the criteria for an initial compensable rating for left hip degenerative joint disease limited flexion are not met.,Throughout the period on appeal, the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip degenerative joint disease limited adduction have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of hypertension, Sjogren’s syndrome, bilateral hip disability, neck disability, back disability, asthma, bilateral CTS, left knee disorder, and seizures are all granted. The claims for a bilateral shoulder disability, IBS, and TMJ syndrome have been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical neck disability, bilateral cataract disability, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizoaffective disorder, depressed type. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left wrist, right wrist, cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The claims were either not appealed or the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder and arm, elbow, wrist, and psychiatric conditions. The issues have been recharacterized to reflect the benefit sought by the Veteran on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, neck, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation and no nexus between current disability and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and associated headaches are related to service, granting their claims for service connection.

The Veteran's high cholesterol is denied as it represents only a laboratory finding and not an actual disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, shin splints, and eye disorder are all denied due to lack of current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,Tinnitus was remanded as there is no direct service connection based on in-service noise exposure. Additional development needed.,Bilateral foot disorder and cervical spine disorder were both found to be normal by VA examiners, with no findings or diagnoses provided.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 12, 2011 for cervical spine radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis have been granted.,Effective from September 27, 2001, the Veteran is service-connected for cervical stenosis and disc disease, headaches as secondary to neck injury, and left trapezius muscle strain associated with cervical spine radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder (including osteoarthritis) and denied service connection for a neck disorder (including cervical strain). The Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is related to his in-service injuries, while the preponderance of evidence does not support finding that his current neck disorder was incurred in or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's cervical strain and lumbosacral strain are not currently rated higher than the assigned percentages.,Prostate cancer status post radiation therapy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea have specific rating criteria that do not allow for a greater rating under current regulations.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) due to insufficient information to verify a claimed in-service stressor.,Service connection cannot be granted for neck disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left ear hearing loss, or right ear hearing loss as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity are being remanded due to insufficient evidence from recent examinations, which do not meet current VA examination requirements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and right ankle disorder due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding these conditions.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for cervical spondylosis with stenosis, claimed as hyperextension of neck due to VA carelessness or negligence. The appellant's right and left upper extremity nerve damage were not found to be related to VA care.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for increased ratings and TDIU prior to August 12, 2015 on chronic cervical sprain, mechanical low back pain, and headaches.