Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in the evidence, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability and right radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for depressive disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated private treatment records, VA examinations, and further analysis of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder strain and cervical spine strain due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new, adequate VA examinations.

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 denied service connection for decreased visual acuity, diabetic retinopathy, as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder and a neck disorder, both secondary to service-connected right ankle and foot disability, and an increased evaluation for intertrigo of the groin and scrotum.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, and his TDIU claim was denied due to failure to cooperate with the prosecution of the claim.,His service-connected cervical spine disability residuals combined with other conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, low back disability, and right knee disability as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,There is no indication of any current disabilities related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is being returned for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of onset during or within one year after service and no chronicity since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding treatment records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in severity prior to September 7, 2012.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for further development to determine if his employment activity constitutes marginal employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine (low back) disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The Board also denied service connection for a left leg disability manifested by neurological symptoms and a right leg disability manifested by neurological symptoms.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of an in-service injury or incident to which his current disabilities may be linked.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical DJD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of recent examinations. The TDIU claim is also on appeal, as it involves a period prior to July 20, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine degenerative arthritis is remanded due to the need for a proper examination.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The reasons are that the most recent VA examinations were almost seven years ago, and the disabilities have worsened since then.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and OSA, but has remanded the cases of Bell's palsy, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar strain, and PTSD with major depressive episode (PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination.