Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is currently employed as a maintenance engineer at St. Francis Medical Center, which does not render him unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that further development is necessary prior to appellate review of the claims on appeal, including for new VA examinations to properly assess the severity of each of the Veteran’s spine disabilities and related radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a skin disorder, cervical spine disability, joint pain in the arms, dizziness, headaches, numbness of the upper extremities, sleep disorders, and chronic fatigue syndrome have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from August 17, 2010 forward due to her service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered her unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee arthritis, cervical strain with arthritis, and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (IBS/GERD), hypertension, fatigue, and various knee and elbow disabilities has been denied as the evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during service or their current existence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of proper effective date documentation. The decision regarding increased rating for PTSD is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, and left knee strain with calcific tendonitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis in multiple joints to include lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and bilateral wrists; an eye disability (cataracts); a CVA; chronic kidney disease; hypertension; diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities; and CAD. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for arthritis in multiple joints.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being obtained. The Veteran is advised to provide authorizations for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the absence of any compensable degree of degenerative disc disease within one year of service separation.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no in-service incident and no evidence of chronicity.

The Veteran's claim for a reduction in her rating for degenerative disease of left ankle from 20 percent to 10 percent is granted. Her claims for service connection for residuals of head and neck injury (right-sided cervical spondylosis), lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, and leg disability are remanded.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for foot, neck, back disabilities, and a TDIU. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine condition and traumatic brain injury, finding that there is no current diagnosis associated with these conditions and insufficient evidence to link them to in-service events or injuries.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current cervical spine conditions to an in-service motor vehicle accident injury. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) rating.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder and right hip disorder, right ear hearing loss, sciatica, cervical spine disability, residuals of a right foot injury, depressive disorder, and left arm disability. The issues are secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate or incomplete examinations and further medical examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding service connection for cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, sleep apnea, and mental health problems.