Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hemorrhoid disability is granted as service-connected. The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and remanded several issues related to his spine, knees, hearing loss, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, hypertension, varicocele, and epididymitis.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 10 percent, but no more. The lumbar strain and bilateral knee disorders are each rated at 10 percent.,PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to January 31, 2014, with the possibility of an increased rating from that date onwards.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, residuals of a right hip fracture, chronic kidney disease, and migraine headaches. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is not service-connected.,Her left and right knee disabilities are not service-connected.,Her back and neck disabilities are not service-connected.,Her respiratory, cardiovascular, GERD, benign neoplasm/lipoma removal, and migraines are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cervical spine disability claim is being reopened, but further examination and opinion are needed regarding the right upper arm/shoulder disability, myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), and migraines.

The Board has granted service connection for an ulcer disability. The issues of service connection for the remaining conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical myelopathy, including whether it is related to service and if it was aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for neck and back disabilities due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions and denied reopening of his claims. However, it granted reopening of a claim for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure and assigned an effective date of March 10, 2003.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and lupus service connection are remanded. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is also remanded, as well as his request for a temporary total rating due to surgery for a pain pump. His TDIU claim is linked to these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to new evidence indicating worsening of her condition. The case is now pending for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left hand, right elbow, left wrist, and right wrist disorders, as well as lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders. The VA examiners found no evidence of these conditions in service or during the separation examination.,Service connection was not established because there is no medical evidence linking any current disabilities to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and require care on a regular basis due to his cognitive impairments. SMC based on need for regular A&A of another person is granted. The temporary total rating based on treatment for a service connected condition is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to the need for VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 6260.,Sleep apnea requires a CPAP machine but does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating as there are no symptoms warranting such a high level of disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis and OSA secondary to PTSD. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's neck disability is related to or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.