Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hand disability, neck disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and sleep apnea. The decision also remanded the issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.,Additional VA treatment records are required to fully assess the Veteran's current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to a lack of functional loss during flare-ups or repetitive use, requiring additional examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not service-connected due to lack of a nexus between current symptoms and in-service noise exposure.,PTSD remains at the maximum 50% evaluation, as there are no additional occupational or social impairments warranting higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and neck disability as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The June 2015 sleep study did not provide a basis to establish service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, with right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, as well as his service-connected degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, with left radiculopathy status post compression fracture C5 and cervical fusion with residual scar, have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis has also been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right heel injury (Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis) has been granted.,The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disabilities has been granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted. The Board has remanded several other issues including service connection for thyroid disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, cataracts, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including neck disability, low back disability, right foot disability, residuals of a head laceration, headaches, depression, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU. The Veteran's STRs may be incomplete, and additional searches are needed. A VA examination is required for psychiatric disorders, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's cervical, lumbosacral, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities have worsened since her last VA examinations in February 2012. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a new VA examination with a neurosurgeon or neurologist. The issues of service connection for cervical disorder, bilateral upper extremity disorder (neuropathy), and fecal and urinary incontinence secondary to back disability are referred for adjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for a cervical spine disability, neurological disability of the left arm, and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is not granted as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence supporting limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to meet the criteria for a combined disability rating greater than 80 percent from July 29, 1997, to August 9, 2001, and greater than 90 percent from August 9, 2001, to June 27, 2002. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 13, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spondylosis and resulting bilateral radiculopathy in the upper extremities are service-connected, with the decision being granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including undifferentiated somatoform disorder and anxiety disorder with mood swings, lack of concentration, memory loss and fatigue, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20% and his cervical spine degenerative disc disease claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection awards of neck, left hip, and back disabilities. The right shoulder disability award had an effective date of September 29, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim for reopening of the coronary heart disease was granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and prostate disorder. Service connection is granted for all conditions except prostate disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective dates for awards of service connection were not granted earlier than specified.