Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further development. The Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of asthma or bronchitis. The Board has also reopened her previously denied claims and remanded two issues: entitlement to more than a 10 percent rating for follicular cervicitus with PID and entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability (asthma or bronchitis).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The VA examiner found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran’s contentions that his cervical spine condition is caused by or etiologically related to his service-connected thoraco-lumbar spine.,The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right and left knee conditions, finding no evidence to support a higher rating based on limitation of flexion.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disability and remanded the claims for heart condition, carotid artery condition, kidney condition, bladder condition, pelvic disability, right buttock disability, and neck disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disability is not fully addressed by the current medical evidence and requires additional examination to determine if his current neck disabilities are related to an in-service car accident.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine disorder, left ankle disorder, and right hip disorders. Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for syncope due to VA medical treatment is denied.,New evidence has been received that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral hip disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his bilateral knee, shoulder, and neck disabilities due to lack of sufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is also required to provide private treatment records related to these conditions.

The claim for service connection for Parkinson’s disease is reopened, and the appeal is granted. The cervical spine disability issue is remanded.

Service connection is granted for bilateral shoulder conditions, low back condition, cervical spine condition (claimed as neck condition), head injury, and headache condition.,Service connection is granted for a low back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for updated VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of her service-connected cervical spine disability, lumbosacral spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot condition. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has found that further remand is required to obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for her cervical and lumbosacral strain conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical spine disability remains at 30 percent, and a temporary total rating based on surgery and convalescence is granted. Separate ratings for upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, GERD, headaches (including migraines), hypertension, TBI residuals, seizures, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right and left shoulder disorders, right and left wrist disorders, elbow bursitis, bilateral hand disorder, knee disorders, eye disorder, sinus disorder with nose bleeds, and face trauma have all been denied.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not met the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's initial ratings for chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, left shoulder impingement syndrome, cervical spine degenerative disk disease, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were granted. The rating for anterior neck scar was also granted but with no assigned percentage or effective date.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition and cervical spine disability are granted. The TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating for the bilateral shoulder condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain and knee conditions, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the evidence shows he is entitled to an award of a TDIU rating based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain, benign skin neoplasms, and low back disability. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these claims.