Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back and neck disability, finding that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions had their onset during active service or were aggravated by periods of inactive duty training.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, neck disability, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran should be asked to provide information about his private treatment and any relevant VA records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded in several instances due to insufficient evidence or need for further medical evaluation.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease (cervical spine), chondromalacia of the left knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective July 11, 2018. The cervical spine disability remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including shoulder, back, neck, hip, knee, foot, otosclerosis, tinnitus, heart, prostate, thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The reasons given are that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include asthma and bronchitis. It also denied increased ratings for left shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease, cervical strain, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for a new examination to address his reports of in-service injuries and continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and bilateral neuropathy of the upper extremities as there was no evidence of a chronic disease that manifested to a compensable degree in service or within a presumptive period.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or occurrence of the claimed in-service stressor.,The Veteran's cervical spine DJD did not meet the criteria for an increased rating to more than 20 percent, as his forward flexion was within normal limits and he did not experience incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability and bilateral knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided that a medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral knee conditions are related to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, or if they are separate conditions.

The Veteran's deviated septum was incurred as a result of service. The cervical spine disorder is not shown to be etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and his claims of secondary service connection are denied.

The Board has ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained, as the current ones are incomplete. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, cervical spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, thoracic spine, bilateral hip, left knee, and neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, all secondary to a right knee disability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability. The appeal is also remanded for additional examinations and rating determinations regarding his service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, effective from the date of the decision.