Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and nose and left hand scars, was granted. The effective date of the increased rating for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or treatment for unspecified joint pain, irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus, PTSD, neck disability, back disability, or hernia. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s dental condition to his period of active service.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease is granted service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for migraine headaches is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Special monthly compensation based on housebound status from September 1, 2016 is denied.,Service connection for left knee conditions (limitation of extension and limitation of flexion) is granted with an effective date of May 23, 2016. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date remains pending.,The Veteran's increased rating claims for left knee conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions (bilateral shoulder, bilateral hand, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities) have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim, are remanded due to the need for additional development.,Increases in the staged ratings assigned for left carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied.

The Board dismissed the service connection appeal for cervical condition, associated with lumbar post laminectomy syndrome, with lumbar degenerative disc disease. The left foot fibroma's rating was restored to 30 percent from June 19, 2015. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for recurring fibroma, left foot, is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examinations due to the Veteran's statements suggesting a worsening of his conditions since the last VA examinations in August 2016. Updated treatment records and new examinations are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete reasoning in a previous VA examination, and additional information is needed regarding the Veteran's neck disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including Gulf War Illness, memory loss, joint pain, cervical spine disability, chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, skin rashes, and headaches. The remand is due to insufficient medical evidence or need for additional examination.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,An increased rating for right and left knee disabilities is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, chronic strain of the left elbow, degenerative joint disease of the right elbow, and cervical spine strain have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to February 16, 2017, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter, for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of lumbar spine stenosis was granted. The claims for right and left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus were withdrawn by the Veteran. The cases of lumbar spine stenosis, cervical spine injury, and residuals of right fifth metatarsal fracture are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a review of service treatment records and VA examination reports.,Service connection for cervical spine condition is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active service or a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, diagnosed as cervical spondylosis and degenerative joint disease, is related to his military service.,New evidence has been received that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for a right knee disorder. The claim is therefore reopened.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the remaining issues on appeal due to a lack of current evidence of these conditions. The Veteran's claims for emphysema, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and arthritis are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine and lumbar spine due to incomplete opinions and potential misalignment of evidence. The Veteran contends that his DDD is related to a football injury during military training, while VA disagrees.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease was granted service connection as it had its onset during active duty and he has experienced continuous symptoms since separation. The other issues were remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, neck disability, left ankle disability, and left hand disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or chronic symptoms.,There is no medical evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing the disabilities manifested within a year prior to the June 20, 2012 claim.,All VA medical records dated prior to June 20, 2012 and since March 2017 should be added to the claims file.