Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative changes of the right hand and cervical spine disability with radiating pain in the right arm have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran’s current degenerative changes of the right hand or cervical spine disability are related to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain with degenerative spondylosis was denied as not caused by his in-service motor vehicle accident.,An increased rating more than 10 percent from January 26, 2015 and continuing thereafter for the lumbosacral spine disorder was denied due to limited range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability, traumatic brain injury, post-concussive headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete records. The AOJ is instructed to verify all periods of active duty, inactive duty for training, and active duty for training, including those from August 1983 to September 1983 and 1991 to 1993 with the 122nd Army Reserve Command. They are also directed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records and VA hospital records.

The Board denied service connection for left arm disability, right arm disability, cervical spine disability, bronchitis, and residuals of pneumonia. The Veteran's STRs do not show a current diagnosis or chronic condition for any of these disabilities.,Service connection was denied because the evidence did not establish that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient development and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disability and a migraine disability, as well as secondary service connection for the migraine disability. The remand is due to concerns about the presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service injury that would support a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development of service personnel records and treatment records, including those related to National Guard service. The Veteran's conditions are left elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, rib, abdominal pain, forehead scar, rash on face, forehead dryness, head injury, hyperventilation, asthma, cervical spine disability, left knee, hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the claimed disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence received after a January 2017 supplemental statement of the case. The VA examinations were not conducted, and additional development is required.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 6, 2013 is granted. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment during this time.

Service connection for cervical and lumbar spine DJD is granted.,Compensable rating for scrotal dermatitis is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right shoulder disability due to lack of medical evidence supporting the claim.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including back disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral leg disorder, bronchitis, scars and skin disfigurement, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, foot, and cervical spine disabilities were previously denied. New evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,Service connection was granted for a headache disorder secondary to tinnitus and major depressive disorder, and OSA was also granted as secondary to major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability (secondary to cervical spine disability), low back disability, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a service-connected left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's surgery for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at C4-5 in September 2010 necessitated one month of convalescence, leading to a temporary total disability rating (TTDC).

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's posttraumatic tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, a cervical spine condition diagnosed as osteoarthritis and C6-C7 broad-based disc bulge with moderate-severe right neuroforaminal narrowing (claimed as neuropathy), and chronic right chest wall pain, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture of right clavicle.,The Board found that there is a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran for each condition granted.