Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and foot disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and evaluation, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's skin condition was reopened, but his increased rating for left shoulder disability and service connection claims were denied. The appeal is remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied. The appeals are not about service connection at all, but rather increased ratings and remand of certain issues.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination. The Veteran's hypertension, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete medical records and unverified in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders due to inadequate medical opinions in the April 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected spondylosis of the cervical spine does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as his range of motion remains within normal limits and he has no intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in disability more nearly approximating occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and impaired impulse control. An initial rating of 70 percent since June 11, 2014 for PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), left lower leg disability, gastrointestinal disability, anemia, sinusitis, cervical strain, OSA, left shoulder strain, cervical dysplasia, cellulitis, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left arm radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disability, cervical spine disability, Buerger’s disease, constipation, and headaches as the evidence did not support these claims.,Service connection was also denied for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and primary insomnia.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen previously denied service connection claims for various conditions, as well as increased ratings and effective date claims, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability, but finds that further development is necessary to determine their etiology.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of her claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and cervical spine disorder with headaches. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, military personnel records, and examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for Graves' disease, cardiological disability, colitis, left arm disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, cervical spine/neck disability, left lower leg/shin disability, and right lower leg/shin disability. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 11, 2012, for service connection were denied.,An effective date of March 28, 2009, was granted for the grant of service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, frostbite of the feet, frostbite of the hands, headaches, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions.