Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's right hip arthritis and herniated nucleus pulposus with spondylolisthesis are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and to obtain updated VA examinations.,The Veteran has multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for various knee disorders, shoulder strain, wrist strain, thoracic spine compression fracture, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis with first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative arthritis, pansinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and tension headaches. Additionally, he seeks service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and right flank condition with numbness.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a back condition and PTSD due to inadequate VA examinations and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran will need to undergo further evaluations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis but denied service connection for a dental condition. The cervical strain claim is remanded due to the lack of an opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran’s posttraumatic headaches are granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran’s cervical spine disability is denied any increase in rating. The Veteran’s left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy are both granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's thoracic spine degenerative disc disease is denied any increase in rating. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied any increase in rating. A total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted from September 18, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for reconsideration in light of additional evidence, including private treatment records from various VA and non-VA facilities. The Appellant is requesting that these matters be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right shoulder, left wrist tendinitis, back, and neck disabilities have been denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or additional limitations due to pain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's neck disability is being reviewed again for a definitive opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The claims for right ankle condition, ulcer condition, back condition, and cervical cancer are reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial in February 1997.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's headaches are aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability. The TDIU issue is also being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spondylosis, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service neck strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and dismissed the claim of service connection for a neck disability. The decision is based on new evidence received since the previous denial, which suggests that the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis may be subject to presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a 10 percent disability rating. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms of recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia and regurgitation meet the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating, but not higher due to lack of considerable impairment of health. Service connection for cervical spine disability and headaches is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is being remanded to allow for this process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and lumbar spine disability, as well as his claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome for VA purposes.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied, and his claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and PTSD were remanded.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for various conditions are dismissed.,The rating reduction from 20 percent to 0 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder with chronic separation was proper.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination for the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The Veteran is required to be re-examined to assess his current severity of the condition and address functional loss on repeated use or during flare-ups.