Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral upper extremity disorders because there was no evidence of aggravation during service, despite new evidence submitted since the 2007 denial.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia. The case was remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's right ankle, right knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left elbow disorders.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and radiculopathy of left upper extremity. The decision also mentions that SSA records and VA treatment records from before 1999 should be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left carpal tunnel syndrome. The cervical spondylosis claim is remanded for an addendum opinion to address whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected low back strain, and if so, whether it also caused or aggravated any other conditions listed in the issues section.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her cervical spine spondylosis is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's left ankle, sinusitis, back disability, and neck disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for neck disability, COPD, and hypertension. The claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted as secondary to his service-connected lower back disability. His right upper extremity numbness is also granted as secondary to a service-connected condition, specifically his breast cancer. The Board has remanded several other issues including ratings for his lower back and radiculopathy conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, knee, back, neck, and shoulder conditions due to new evidence. The issues of increased ratings for asthma, migraines, PTSD, and service connection for right knee, neck, trapezius disorder (claimed as back and neck trapezius strain and a right shoulder disorder), thoracic outlet syndrome, bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, and left foot tendonitis are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 13, 2016.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for a tongue/salivary gland disorder is denied due to lack of a causal link between service and the condition.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder is remanded as the VA examination report did not provide an opinion on whether his current muscle tension is related to complaints in service.,The Veteran's claims for respiratory disorders (bronchitis and sinusitis) are remanded due to inadequate examination, including failure to consider the Veteran’s history of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's claim for a stomach disorder is remanded as there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal link between service and the condition.,The Veteran's claim for a headache disorder is remanded due to inadequate examination, including failure to provide an opinion on whether his headaches are related to complaints in service or a preexisting disorder that was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a causal link between service and the condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative joint disease is related to service, granting service connection for this condition.

The appeal is granted and the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, higher initial evaluation for right knee disability, higher initial evaluation for nephrolithiasis, and higher initial evaluation for cervical spine disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of neck, back, bilateral knee, bilateral shoulder and chest pain disabilities. The appeal regarding vertigo is dismissed as well.

The Board has granted the appellant's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, upper extremity neuropathy, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for verification of his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his active service, but additional evidence is needed for other conditions. The Veteran will need to provide updated treatment records and undergo a new VA examination.