Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability and granted service connection for left varicocele residuals (scar). The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability and TBI, but granted service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection was granted for acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, neck disability, and radiculopathy as they are related to a right shoulder injury sustained during service. The Veteran's current disabilities may be considered secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for neck, back, right knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the VA examinations and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding military records and inadequate VA examination for neck disability. The claims for service connection are not decided yet.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for limitation of flexion of the right knee, but an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service connected advanced lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), and remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disability and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted at a 10% rating prior to November 25, 2016 and denied for any higher rating. The cervical spine disorder and tinnitus are both remanded for further development.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is denied because his vision loss, which requires regular assistance from a caregiver, is not related to any service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran's functional restrictions are due to his non-service connected blindness.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and increased evaluations for the Veteran's disabilities, including neck disability, tingling and numbness of upper extremities, DDD with scoliosis, right knee instability, osteoarthritis of the right knee with scar, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The remand requires a new VA examination to address these issues.

The claim has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but service connection for the neck condition is still being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and headaches due to a motor vehicle accident are not service-connected.,Service connection for the right upper extremity disability and left upper extremity disability is also denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease is rated at a 20% rating prior to August 28, 2017 and at a 40% rating beginning on that date. His cervical spine degenerative joint disease is rated at a 30% rating since the start of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and verification of his periods of active duty, as well as obtaining any available service treatment records. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye disorders (including right and left eyes), back disability, neck disability, right arm disability, left arm disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and right foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions. Service connection will be determined based on the merits of each claim.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent from February 12, 2012 to July 2, 2018. A separate 10 percent rating for right arm numbness (right cervical radiculopathy) has been granted since July 2, 2018.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was denied. Claims for increased ratings for facet arthritis and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and cervical spine strain with degenerative changes, C5-C6, C6-C7 with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) were also denied.