Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine and left knee disabilities due to incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's back disability has not met the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's neck disability has not met the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and an effective date earlier than August 5, 2014, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 5, 2014, is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.,There is no current diagnosis or evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis resulted in a flexion of 45 degrees and a combined range of motion of 70 degrees, with no ankylosis. The claim for higher ratings was denied.,For cervical degenerative disc disease, the Veteran had a flexion of 20 degrees and a combined range of motion of 135 degrees, also without ankylosis. The claim for higher ratings was denied.

All claims seeking to reopen previously denied service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left ankle and neck disabilities were denied as there was no new evidence submitted to reopen the prior claims, and the earliest date VA received a request to reopen was April 28, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he meets the criterion for aid and attendance benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for numbness in the left toes, neck disability, right ankle disability, OSA, and hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claims for secondary service connection are remanded as further medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulitis, ventral hernia, and colon polyp, is not service-connected.,PTSD was not diagnosed in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 30, 2016 is granted as his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria and render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, cervical spine injury, thoracic spine injury, and heat stroke residuals. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral foot condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, lung and chest pain/condition, and sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical sprain and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The June 24, 2015 rating decision assigned a 10 percent disability rating for the service connected cervical spine disorder and GERD. The Veteran's appeal was granted.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition, and the Veteran did not receive a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibroids, painful scars status post breast reduction surgery and hysterectomy, lumbar sprain, supra-cervical hysterectomy, and lupus, resulted in a combined disability rating of at least 70 percent from May 13, 2003, to January 29, 2011, and from December 1, 2011, to February 19, 2013. The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities during these periods.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including residuals of a right eye injury, neck disability, back disability, bilateral upper extremity neurological disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals are related as they all involve service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The decision found that the current conditions are not related to active service.