Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

Entitlement to a higher disability rating for cervical strain prior to July 11, 2016 and an increased rating thereafter is denied.,Initial entitlement to a higher disability rating for headaches prior to July 11, 2016 is also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain (claimed as lower back injury or scoliosis) due to new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for this condition, finding a nexus between the Veteran's current disability and an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee arthritis with left leg shin splints, and right knee arthritis with right leg shin splints. The Veteran will be provided additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder. The decision also granted a 50 percent rating for the adjustment disorder effective from August 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson’s disease and cervical dystonia due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities, and restored a 20 percent rating for sciatic nerve involvement of the lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not based on presumptive exposure or new evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in October 2012, and he is now seeking an increased rating.,For his right knee patellofemoral syndrome (post-arthroscopic repair of meniscus tear), cervical spine degenerative spondylosis with disc protrusion, residual scar, right knee, radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, and radiculopathy in the right upper extremity, he is seeking increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD is denied as it was not factually ascertainable prior to August 15, 2013.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck, back, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis / degenerative disc disease, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, and denied service connection for a cervical spine condition (claimed as neck condition).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection is denied for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, bilateral pes planus, a bilateral achilles heel disorder, psoriatic arthritis with vasculitis, and a bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's initial ratings and effective date for his service-connected cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as issues related to the extension of a temporary total evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his left and right hip disabilities. The examiners were not provided with information about a fall in 2009 or other incidents that may have contributed to these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for her hysterectomy claim. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosis, and no new and material evidence was provided.,The Veteran's claim for cervical HNP was denied as there is no evidence it occurred during service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for cervical strain and remanded all other issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current neck disorder, arthritis, IVDS, and umbilical hernia are being evaluated.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, back, and bilateral shoulder disabilities were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,No new or material evidence has been presented that would support reopening the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. He was previously awarded a 30% rating for PTSD effective July 28, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.