Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran is granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The case for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is remanded as the VA has not obtained all relevant private treatment records from Emory University.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate or incomplete examination reports and other procedural issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current disability and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions, as well as neurogenic bladder. The case must be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, neck disability, and low back disability. Service connection is also remanded for right clavicle tumor, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reports of a worsening cervical spine disability and related symptoms require an updated VA examination. The issues include rating adjustments for various disabilities, including those affecting the upper extremities, shoulders, head, and jaw.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluations for headaches and cervical strain with IVDS are denied as the evidence does not show characteristic prostrating attacks or incapacitating episodes of sinusitis.,Initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain with IVDS are also denied due to lack of findings meeting specific criteria.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records from various facilities and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the issues regarding left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with the cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and left L5 radiculopathy are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an upper back disability, a low back disability, and a right shoulder disability. The claims are remanded for further development regarding the increased rating claim for the right hand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not show a relationship between his conditions and service, or any other qualifying exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorder and cervical spine disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for clarification on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and loss of function of the left leg. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for high cholesterol, PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, scar from cesarean sections, hysterectomy, left oophorectomy, tinnitus, pelvic pain after childbirth, right shoulder dislocation, rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as allergies), bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, eczema, lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and severe alopecia (claimed as cicatrical scarring alopecia) for additional development to verify service records.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is required to attend VA examinations for these issues.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical spine disability, TBI residuals (memory loss), and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted. The claims for increased ratings of left knee instability and semilunar cartilage condition as well as right knee instability are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for back, neck, left shoulder, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity disorders on a direct basis. The Veteran's current diagnoses of DJD (degenerative joint disease) of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hips, and shoulders are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's posttraumatic chronic cervical strain is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic chronic lumbar strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder, and restless leg syndrome have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis.