Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, hepatitis C, and GERD due to potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records, request SSA disability benefits records, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination in each of these cases.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected depression, migraine headaches with cervical myofascial pain, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related. The claim for service connection for depression is granted. The evaluations for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus remain at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and cardiovascular disorder (diagnosed as hypertensive cardiovascular disease). The claims are being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss claim is denied, and the cervical and thoracic spine conditions are not supported by the evidence. Service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and right knee degenerative joint disease remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, neck disability, low back disability, and migraine headaches.

Service connection has been granted for headaches, a psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression), and residuals of a broken jaw. The Veteran's skin condition, claimed as jungle rot, traumatic brain injury to include syncope, right shoulder disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity are all pending.,The Board has granted service connection for headaches, a psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression), and residuals of a broken jaw. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine disorder and right upper extremity radiculopathy prior to June 3, 2014 were denied.,Since June 3, 2014, the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine disorder and right upper extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence being required. The issues include right hand disorder, back disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral hammer toes, abdominal pain, OSA, joint pain, fatigue, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, residuals of a right knee fracture secondary to service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Board also remanded the issues regarding cervical spine and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint diseases.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence filed by the Veteran and incomplete records from his Army Reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability and associated migraine headaches has been reopened, with the grant of a 100% rating effective September 16, 2016.,Service connection for migraine headaches was granted, with a 100% rating effective September 16, 2016.

The Veteran's left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are to be re-evaluated as the initial rating decisions were not clear on this point.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed and anxious mood, left shoulder strain, lumbar strain, cervical strain with degenerative joint disease, and right ankle disorder have been granted. However, the claims for higher initial ratings for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient examination information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease and residuals of a left ankle disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is also requested to provide any relevant private medical records.

The appeal of the issue of an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is dismissed.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence, but has remanded them for further development as there is insufficient evidence to determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.