Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to various conditions have been remanded due to new evidence received since previous decisions.,Service connection is denied for a right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service, nor may it be presumed to be. His heart conditions are not related to his military service or within a year of discharge.,Service connection was also denied for degenerative arthritis of the right thumb and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar and cervical spines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mild cervical spondylosis (previously claimed as residuals of neck trauma) has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for other conditions have not been reopened.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and unemployability benefits due to service-connected disabilities. Further development is needed including obtaining medical records, examining the appellant's cervical spine condition, and evaluating his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical and lumbar spines have been denied as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disorders are rated at 30% and 20%, respectively, effective September 13, 2018.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically generalized anxiety disorder, is granted service connection. The remaining issues are either dismissed or remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to the service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical segmental dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, skin disability, left hip disorder, and low back disability due to lack of a VA examination or medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a neck disability and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient examination findings regarding whether the Veteran's neck condition is related to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of cervical spine, left hip, right hip, bilateral foot disability (claimed as bilateral foot pain), and respiratory disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability.,There is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected deviated nasal septum. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity sciatic nerve remains at a 20% rating, but the Veteran's deviated nasal septum is restored to a 40% rating effective July 1, 2017.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to review additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and right upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and a need for a more complete expert opinion regarding the Veteran's employability considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted service connection effective December 5, 2011. The claim for left big toe amputation compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied due to lack of evidence showing negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's heart condition, vision loss, back conditions, lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spinal stenosis, right hip condition, kidney failure, arthritis, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, varicose veins, carpal tunnel syndrome, and restless leg syndrome are all related to service exposure to hazardous chemicals. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination for each issue.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and mild recurrent major depressive disorder, with moderate generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder are all related to service exposure to hazardous chemicals. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination for each issue.

The Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for various service-connected disabilities have been denied. The Board has remanded several of the issues for further evaluation, including those related to arthritis and wrist conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, major depression, low back disability, cervical spine disability, and diabetes mellitus, rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment from March 24, 2010 to November 19, 2013. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.