Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, finding insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's assertion that his current neck disability is related to his active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for right hand disability, residuals of a right foot injury, bilateral knee disability, and COPD. The claim for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, is granted. The Board found that his current condition is related to an in-service fall and supports this finding with medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, left knee strain, right knee osteoarthritis, and cervical degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, neck, and headache disabilities due to additional development being required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to service, specifically his active duty service in October to November 2004.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's cervical spine radiculopathy into the bilateral upper extremities is granted.,Higher disability ratings for dorsal and low back strain, chronic cervical strain/degenerative disc disease (DDD), neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has revised its July 20, 2015 decision to grant service connection for chronic cervical strain. The other issues of service connection were denied due to lack of evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and back disabilities, as well as migraines secondary to a back disability, need further review due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability rating for herniation of cervical spine should be restored to 30 percent, effective December 31, 2016. The ratings for myositis of right hip with exostosis of right ilium and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability and neck disability was denied. The claim for service connection of bipolar disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claims for liver damage, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrist, degenerative disease of the left knee, degenerative changes of the right knee, chronic cervical strain with radiculopathy/neuropathy, lumbar strain, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD have all been denied. The Veteran's claim for prurigo is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with left upper extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, and nervous disorder) due to incomplete records and need for additional information regarding stressors.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, back disability, neck disability, right foot disability, Meniere's disease, and gastrointestinal disability (GERD). The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions at the time of the decision. The Board found that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or in-service incurrence for diabetes mellitus, back disability, neck disability, right foot disability, Meniere's disease, and gastrointestinal disability (GERD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his cervical spine disorder, TBI, and headaches/dizziness are granted. The issues of residuals of a concussion, back injury, Scheuermann’s disease, and depressive disorder remain pending and need further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to a neck injury he sustained during a period of INACDUTRA in October 2002, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for head scars prior to October 5, 2017 and higher than 10 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and functional loss assessment for the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Board has found that there is insufficient information to decide the current appeal and requires additional examinations for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and cervical spine DDD.