Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and neck disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including asbestos exposure, low back disability, sciatic nerve impingement, cervical spondylitis, sarcoidosis, diabetes, hypertension, and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is being remanded due to an inadequate August 2016 VA examination. A new examination is needed to address deficiencies in the previous examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a neck disability, sciatica of the left leg, muscle twitching, bilateral hand numbness, and right lower extremity numbness. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are all reopened. However, initial rating increases in excess of 10 percent prior to June 11, 2010, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities have been denied.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis status post-surgery is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from the entire appeal period. The Veteran’s benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and hypertension are denied evaluations greater than 10 percent. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from that date. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) and unspecified anxiety disorder with other specified insomnia are denied evaluations greater than 20 percent.

The appeal for service connection of a duodenal ulcer is dismissed.,As new and material evidence has been received, the claim for service connection of a ventral hernia is granted. The issue remains remanded due to other pending claims.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2015 for service-connected disorders was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a timely application for benefits prior to his discharge from active duty on May 30, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension (HTN) due to a lack of an SOC addressing the cervical spine claim. The VA is directed to issue an SOC on this matter and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records from VA facilities.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status is denied because he does not meet the necessary requirements under 38 U.S.C. § 1114.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, back disability, chronic sinusitis, chronic allergies, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, bilateral knee, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected, but his obstructive sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by PTSD.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and a lower back condition are denied. Service connection for cervical spondylosis (claimed as neck condition) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and up-to-date VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for perianal and intra anal condyloma acumination, diabetes mellitus type II, right shoulder condition, right elbow condition, cervical spine condition, and right bicep muscle condition are being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left lower extremity disabilities has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service connected as it is not related to his military service or a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, thrombocytopenia, headache disability (secondary to cervical radiculopathy), and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity are all granted as service connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to service.

The appeal to reopen claims for shoulder, neck and back disorders as well as psoriasis and rosacea is granted. The appeals for right and left shoulder, cervical spine (neck), lumbar spine, and skin disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical spine and thoracic spine disorders were denied.,Effective dates earlier than September 22, 2017, for the awards of a 20 percent rating for cervical spine and thoracic spine disorders are also denied.