Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right elbow, neck, and right leg disabilities were denied as they are not related to service.,The Veteran's back and left leg disabilities have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The claims for left shoulder, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and ischemic heart disease disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a cervical spine disability, nerve disorder affecting the right upper extremity (RUE), and hypertension have been denied. The VA has assigned a 20% rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal regarding effective dates earlier than August 7, 2016 for service connection for various conditions was denied.,The Veteran's appeals regarding initial disability ratings were either not addressed or remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical sprain, cervical spondylosis, and lumbar spondylosis, finding that these conditions began during active service.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and upper back conditions due to inconclusive objective medical evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back injuries, lower lumbar joint and disc degeneration, a cervical spine disability, bilateral cervical radiculopathy and paresthesias of the shoulders, arms and hands, neurogenic tics, extreme loss of weight, difficulty breathing, myositis, myopathy, ALS, and headaches. The claims are being remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to exposure to herbicides or jet fuel and exhaust.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for right eye hyperphoria prior to December 4, 2014 is dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings of right eye hyperphoria, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine disc disease are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disorder, cervicalgia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rhinitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, esophageal reflux, and anemia are all found to be related to service. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for his bilateral knees and hearing loss, which require further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral hand and arm numbness and tingling due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his right shoulder, left and right knee disabilities, cervical spine condition, ankle disabilities, tinnitus, or scars.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left shoulder strain and multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical spine from September 23, 2014 have been granted. The issues related to right and left hip strains are being remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including neck disability, left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, tonsil disability, acid reflux (GERD), and headaches. The decision also includes requests for VA examinations and for SSA disability records.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for new VA examinations to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical disc disease due to a lack of recent VA examinations, and requests for additional records from the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a bilateral shoulder condition, finding that the conditions did not clearly and unmistakably preexist active duty and were unrelated to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the appeal stream and issues with the rating of cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy.