Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability with arthritis, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The cervical spine disability was also found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability could not be established as there was no evidence of chronic disease noted in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology has not been shown since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, as well as his ratings for cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, left tibia stress fracture with shin splints, and right tibia fracture with shin splints are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and foot disabilities due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for right wrist condition, bilateral knee conditions, and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine conditions are also denied.

The Veteran's applications to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for a left eye condition, facial numbness and sensitivity to cold, and dental condition are all denied. The application for service connection for a cervical spine condition is not granted as the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability, bilateral foot disability, and mental condition due to lack of VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative disc disease is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his service-connected right hand disability, as well as additional claims related to migraine headaches, eye disorder, cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity disorder, jaw pain/facial spasms, skin disorder, and heart disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for bilateral tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.,Service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity (RUE) disability, left lower extremity (LLE) radiculopathy, and right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is also remanded as it may be affected by the outcome of his service connection claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran suffers from a cervical spine disorder, including costovertebral syndrome, and whether it is related to her service. The examiner must consider all lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for cervical spine degeneration and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as the previous VA examinations were inadequate in addressing all documented complaints of spine symptomatology during service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), lower left extremity neuropathy, and upper left extremity neuropathy have been granted. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, but has not yet made a final decision on whether service connection should be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability from May 24, 2012. The Board has vacated the November 2018 remand and remanded the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and ankylosing spondylitis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for cervical spine disability (to include as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis), left upper extremity radiculopathy (to include as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis), and right upper extremity radiculopathy (to include as secondary to service-connected ankylosing spondylitis) have been reopened.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for multiple myeloma has been remanded.

The Veteran's right eye disability, cervical spine spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (L3-4) were not found to be service-connected or warrant increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to October 9, 2014 were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable due to their combined effects.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities made it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of February 4, 2004.