Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a bilateral hip disability, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions during his period of active duty or post-service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for sleep apnea and lower extremity radiculopathies. The remand also includes requests for effective date determinations and increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and tremors to include Parkinson's disease, as well as higher ratings for coronary artery disease. The evidence did not support a finding of direct or presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic headache condition and secondary service connection for the same to his service-connected cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's trachea disorder is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to her service-connected cervical spine disability. Her claim for an increased rating of the cervical spine disability is also being remanded due to inadequate prior examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the relationship between PTSD and in-service harassment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a neck disability, bilateral radiculopathy of the upper extremities as secondary to service-connected neck disability, obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected back disability, and bilateral leg DVT as secondary to service-connected back disability. The Veteran's migraine headaches claim has also been reopened.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his active military service, as there was no evidence of injury or disease in service that could have caused these conditions.,Service connection for a respiratory disability other than allergic rhinitis was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cervical spine disability and low back disability cases are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for sacroiliitis, arthritis and disc degeneration of the lumbar spine, arthritis and disc degeneration of the cervical spine, right hip arthritis, and left hip arthritis as these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disabilities prior to February 1, 2016 and from February 1, 2016, as well as for a lumbar spine disability. The reasons are that VA provided new examinations but did not attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of flare-ups.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for straightening of the normal cervical lordosis and spondylitic myelopathy, as well as secondary service connection for cervical stenosis. The Board also finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's COPD was related to his in-service exposure to smoke fumes while serving as a firefighter.

The Board denied service connection for right hand, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's in-service fall.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine disabilities are related to her military service. The Board found an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether these conditions were caused by or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 2, 2001 for the 20 percent disability rating and April 12, 2006 for the 40 percent disability rating for healed compression fractures T8 and T9 with degenerative changes to L4 and L5, herniated disc, arthritis, lumbar spine strain was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 12, 2006 for the grant of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with involvement of sciatic nerve of the left and right lower extremities was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in 2013 was denied because the prescribed medication (Clobetasol ointment) did not cause damage to his clothing, and there is no provision for damage resulting from the disability itself.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. Service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the lack of records from the Veteran's period of active service from January 1971 to December 1973. The VA must attempt to obtain these records and provide a formal finding if they cannot be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The evidence is evenly balanced regarding whether these disabilities are related to military service.