Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that it is not related to his service-connected right knee disability and does not meet the criteria for direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unverified in-service stressors and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, a cervical spine disorder, and headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder has been granted.,Service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a right foot disorder (heel spurs) have not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and neck disabilities due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently considered direct service connections.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that raises the possibility of substantiating the claim, including testimony from the Veteran regarding an in-service injury and VA treatment records indicating current symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability. The evidence did not establish a link between these disabilities and service.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome and his neck disability. The issues of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendinitis and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder posttraumatic arthritis is granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The initial rating for cervical spine spondylosis prior to May 16, 2015 was denied and thereafter it is granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as a component of the already service-connected sinusitis. Service connection was denied for cervical spine, lumbar spine, GERD, and ED disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his bilateral foot disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of 20 percent for cervical strain and 30 percent for PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran requesting withdrawal of these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition, right shoulder disability, and neck disability have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disorder, lower back disorder, left knee disorder, and cervical radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, tinnitus, and bilateral hand intermittent dysesthesias and muscle cramping. The back disability claim is denied as the evidence does not show a direct relationship to service or service-connected GBS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records. The claims will be reconsidered after all available records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded three issues: eosinophilic esophagitis, psoriasis, and diarrhea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, arterial hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,The claim for service connection for an unspecified neurocognitive disorder was not addressed as it is considered part of his existing service-connected schizoaffective disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions and additional evidence. The Veteran's left elbow and neck disabilities, as well as his bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis with tarsal tunnel syndrome and Achilles contracture, need further examination and opinion.

The claim for service connection for a low back condition has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for cervical spine degenerative changes, but the appeal on CAD and diabetes mellitus type II was remanded due to lack of opinion from VA examiners. The Veteran's acne vulgaris disability remains in dispute.