Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any cervical spine disc disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. Service connection is not granted for hyperglycemia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his cervical spine disability and numbness of the upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine DDD, as well as the propriety of reducing his disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are granted as service-connected, with the hearing loss being due to aggravation during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted. The issues of increased rating for lumbar strain and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the relationship between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims for COPD, miscarriage, pre-cancerous breast masses, and cervical cancer are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed sinus, neck, and back disabilities. The claims for service connection remain pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of April 6, 2012. However, the Board found that the effective date should be set at April 17, 2006 due to his combined disability rating reaching 60% on that date.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine condition, lower back condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than noncompensable, and his migraine headaches are rated at 10 percent prior to February 12, 2019, but a 30 percent rating is granted for the same condition starting from that date.,Cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease and left knee status post ACL repairs are remanded for further examination and rating consideration.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative disc disease (DDD) of his cervical spine and associated radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's left knee posttraumatic chondromalacia patella and recurrent cervical strain have been granted service connection. A rating of 10 percent for hypertension has also been granted effective from December 15, 2017.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for a left upper extremity disorder was not granted, and the service connection claim for a cervical spine disorder was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The left hip sprain claim is remanded as an examination report was inadequate, while other claims are remanded for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck and low back disabilities due to incomplete analysis of his service treatment records. The VA examiner opined that the current cervical and lumbar spine conditions are less likely than not related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, neck disability, right ankle disability, and restless leg syndrome.,The Veteran's GERD remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and possibly scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were denied as they are not related to military service. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were aggravated by active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but the remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hand and finger disabilities and an acquired psychiatric disability remain remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are granted as they were aggravated by a March 2015 motor vehicle accident during INACDUTRA.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted as it began during active service.