Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder and neck disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities. Additional examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 15, 2011 for the grant of service connection for a mood disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 100 percent for a mood disorder is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral lower and upper extremity arthritis, cervical spine disability, low back disability, bilateral foot pain, glaucoma, and abdominal hernia. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back and neck disabilities. The loss of a tooth case is denied as there is no evidence of dental condition related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have all been rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and depression, left lower extremity radiculopathy, depression, a cervical spine disability, and right and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded due to conflicting evidence from VA examinations. His GERD is also remanded as new symptoms have been reported.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spondylosis and tinnitus are not related to his military service.,The Veteran is also seeking service connection for TBI with residuals including dizziness, memory loss, seizures, and post-traumatic headaches. The Board finds these claims should be remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's disability rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for annual VA clothing allowances for bilateral KAFO leg braces used due to her service-connected cervical spine disability, despite the VAMC initially denying these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and tension headache disorders have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits. The VA examinations are needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorders and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including DDD and herniated disc, is granted as service connected.,His bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and right CTS are also granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.,Service connection for MDD is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disability is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.,The Veteran's service connection claim for malignant liposarcoma (claimed as lipoma) is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for tick bite and related blood infection is denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran has not provided any medical opinion connecting the current arthritis, hand, knee, neck, or psoriatic arthritis disabilities to a tick bite or strep infection during service.

The Board previously denied a compensable rating for the scar, cervical spine prior to January 20, 2016; and higher than 10 percent thereafter. The claim has been dismissed as there is no longer any remaining allegation of error.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted, and his fecal incontinence claim remains denied. The cervical spine disorder was found to be related to service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for neck, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for asthma, internal hemorrhoids, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disability have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination on the issue of service connection for a cervical spine condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the denial of compensation for demyelinating disease with retrobulbar neuritis, left eye (NS). The claim is dismissed.,The Veteran also requested to withdraw his appeal regarding service connection for a visual defect. The claim is dismissed.