Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, including as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and to address his reports of flare-ups. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's neck, low back, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities are being reviewed again as new evidence suggests a possible link to service.

The Board has denied compensation for additional neck disability due to VA treatment or medical care. The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, aggravation of existing conditions, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine and headache disabilities were reopened due to new evidence. The claims are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an increased level of SMC based on need for higher level of aid and attendance.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, and spondylosis are not rated higher than 20 percent.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from his Marine Corps Reserve service and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also required to provide private chiropractic treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability on the basis that it is proximately due to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral spine disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right-hand disabilities are not related to service. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service.,Service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right-hand disabilities has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine and bilateral hip conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, left arm, and left shoulder disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology and relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, neck, hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, arm, leg, hand, sinusitis, heart, hypertension, stomach, cancer, foot, diabetes mellitus, brain injury, and seizure disability. The decision was based on the lack of competent evidence supporting these claims.,The Board also remanded service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability, headache, earlier effective date for right ankle disability, and service connection for a disability of the hips.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine (neck) disability, as secondary to his service-connected low back disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 21, 2014. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether she was unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of definitive opinion regarding their etiology. The claims will be reconsidered after an examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disorder and bilateral knee disorders has been granted. The issues of secondary service connection have also been remanded.,A VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hallux rigidus (limitus), 1st MTP joints with degenerative changes, status post left hammertoe correction and 1st MTP joint fusion; residuals of a scar on the left foot, status post nerve removal; and scar of the right foot.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, back disability, bilateral foot neurological disorder, and left arm neurological disorder due to insufficient examination findings and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for left knee disability, right knee disability, cervical spine disability prior to December 19, 2017, and lumbar spine disability as of December 19, 2017 have been denied.