Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a neck condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, and bilateral hand condition. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to known clinical diagnoses.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of evidence showing the conditions began in service or within one year of service.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative joint disease is granted service connection. The bilateral pinguecula (claimed as a bilateral eye condition) issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was dismissed due to his death before a decision could be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spondylosis and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide private treatment records, and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70% from May 20, 2009. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and TDIU prior to August 2, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for chronic low back pain, neck disability as secondary to chronic low back pain, and cervical DDD displacement due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a back injury and for entitlement to TDIU due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

All pending claims for service connection and increased ratings are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis and any associated headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current PTSD symptoms and severity.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition, and for obtaining any outstanding treatment records. The Veteran asserts that his disability has worsened since his last exam.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and associated arm radiculopathy were found to not warrant higher ratings, with the exception of a remanded issue regarding right knee service connection. The case was also remanded for individual unemployability determination.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to provide VA treatment records from January 25, 2005 to August 4, 2017. The appeal is being remanded due to this missing information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury with residuals, chronic myositis of the para-cervical and para-lumbar spine muscles, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, absence seizures, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, including any National Guard or Reserve service, and all updated treatment records should be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for a back injury and cervical disc disease with mechanical neck pain, finding that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions and that there was no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee DJD and meniscus injury, fibromyalgia, right ankle strain, lumbar spine osteoarthritis with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine DDD with right and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted ratings from specific dates. The Veteran is also receiving separate compensable ratings for instability and scars related to the right knee.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to additional development being needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, emphysema, radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities, internal hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, and major depressive disorder. The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder from February 20, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence. Specifically, a new VA examination is needed to determine if his current cervical spine disability is caused or worsened by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA could provide supportive evidence for some of the Veteran's claims.