Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and awarded a separate 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability with moderate lateral instability. The current 10 percent rating for limitation of motion remains in place.

For the period between October 9, 2014 and September 25, 2019, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,From September 26, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to new VA treatment records, and the claims are being remanded for further review.

Service connection is granted for a neck disability. The Veteran's right shoulder, bilateral heel, sleep apnea, hypertension, and GERD disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for psychiatric disability and neck disability has been granted.

Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,An initial 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis is granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and headaches are remanded due to lack of recent examination.,The Veteran’s skin disorder (squamous cell carcinoma) is presumed due to herbicide exposure, but the relationship with his claimed lichen planus-like keratosis remains unclear. Cervical spine disorder secondary to lumbar spine disability is also remanded for further evaluation.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent from May 7, 2012, for lumbosacral Strain (claimed as low back strain) is remanded.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as they are not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for his right knee arthritis, finding insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for acid reflux, cervical spine disorder, upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, shoulder disorder, knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen these previously denied claims.,Service connection for costochondritis was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and neck disabilities, both related to his service-connected left shoulder disability, have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence collection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear reasons and bases provided in the April 2018 decision. The issues are related as they all involve disabilities that pre-existed service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the Board's failure to consider it prior to August 16, 2015. The case will be reconsidered along with other pending claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including examinations to address his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The claims are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities as there was no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hip, knee, and cervical spine disabilities as secondary to a lumbosacral strain due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is dismissed as his PTSD, which he claimed for TDIU, has been rated at 100% since June 30, 2010. The issue of service connection for GERD is also dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability. The claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine remain in dispute.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues require additional examinations and evidence to determine the etiology of his disabilities, as well as the appropriate disability ratings. The appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and potential new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain, also claimed as neck strain due to inadequate VA examination and failure to address certain theories of etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions, as the VA examiner did not adequately address whether he has a qualifying chronic disability or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.