Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to herbicide exposure and secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back disability. The neck, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral elbow disabilities were denied as not incurred in or due to service. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea and headaches, but denied for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's neck disability has been granted service connection, with the decision to reopen the claim based on new evidence of a relationship between current symptoms and service. The right hand disability also received service connection.,Issues related to TBI residuals, neck disability (secondary to football injuries), left leg disability (secondary to knee disability), and left foot disability (manifested by numbness) secondary to knee disability remain pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board finds the issues of cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, hearing loss, right leg chondromalacia, left leg chondromalacia, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection is on hold until these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder and unspecified personality disorder are currently rated at 70 percent, right shoulder tendonitis at 10 percent, and cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis at 20 percent. The case is remanded for further action on the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and pectoralis disability, low back disability, neck disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete information about his Reserve service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for Reiter’s Syndrome and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but found that the evidence did not show the appellant was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion addressing the interrelationship between his service-connected left ankle and bilateral knee disorders and his spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service connection claims, including cervical spine disability, right elbow and left elbow disabilities, right hip and left hip disabilities, and residuals of a right hand injury. The maximum schedular ratings were not assigned for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease due to inadequate VA examinations and insufficient evidence of a causal relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease, as well as special monthly compensation benefits based on the need for aid and attendance or of being housebound, are remanded due to new evidence submitted at his hearing. The RO must review this additional evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for GERD was granted. The claims for the other conditions were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current disability is not related to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, cervical spine disability, ankle disabilities, skin disorder, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's neck condition is being reviewed again for proper consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his medical history and any relevant medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding the Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran needs to provide additional evidence and undergo another VA examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50% since January 2018. The Board has granted an initial rating of 50% for her migraines, finding that they are productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks with severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for lumbar spine disability has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for cervical spine disability has also been reopened and granted.