Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, with no evidence of ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for her back disability.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability has also been rated based on limitation of motion. She is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service connected bilateral knee disabilities and cervical spine, as well as his claim of entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate rationale in the previous decision and incomplete VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's PTSD is assigned a 70% rating effective March 9, 2017. Claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, as well as TDIU, are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to October 28, 2016, and in excess of 40 percent from that date, for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with disc syndrome. The claim for service connection was denied due to lack of evidence showing the onset or aggravation of a cervical spine disability during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating based on their combined rating of 80%. However, due to the lack of an examination considering her unemployability due to these conditions, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine issues, fibromyalgia, and others, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion due to conflicting medical opinions.,Bilateral hearing loss is also remanded for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to her withdrawal of the claims.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches was denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as the previous VA examination was inadequate and does not address secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence, but the Veteran did not attend the scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 18, 2018. From that date forward, the rating is denied as his condition does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was remanded due to insufficient evidence. The effective date for the PTSD rating is set at September 5, 2017.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine disability has been granted. The issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a low back disorder is dismissed.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder, with numbness in the left arm, to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disorder, is denied. The Board finds that cervical spine disorder is not caused by an event, injury or illness during active service, nor is it caused by, the result of or made progressively worse by service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a neck disability, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current neck condition is related to his active duty service or if it is secondary to his already service-connected back disability. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination to determine these relationships.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back and cervical spine conditions has been remanded due to the need for VA examinations. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision without these exams.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his left ankle disability was granted, with a 20% disability rating effective from the date of the decision. The claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities were reopened due to new evidence received since the final denial in July 2012. Service connection for cervical spine condition was also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service, and the combined rating of his service-connected conditions does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening his claim of service connection for neck injuries and related degenerative disc disease was dismissed. His claims for knee disabilities, hearing loss, and total knee replacements were also dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability and heart disorder (hypertension) as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.