Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back disorder. The appeal for an increased rating of left knee degenerative joint disease was withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability. However, the Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or aggravation by the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Raynaud's phenomenon, multiple sclerosis with adjustment disorder, and lumbar strain due to service-connected multiple sclerosis. The Veteran needs new examinations to determine the current severity of his conditions and an addendum opinion regarding whether his back condition is related to his service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a hand fracture, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and cervical spine disability due to lack of consideration of service treatment records and need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that any current disabilities are not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted with effective dates of March 18, 2013.

The Board has ordered remand for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for retrospective findings regarding the Veteran's neck and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in a previous examination. The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and leg numbness disorders are being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not rated higher than 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence of a hernia or blood in urine. The claims for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include TBI, cervical spine disability, right wrist disability, and prostatitis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's service records, including his National Guard/Army Reserve service, must be verified, and VA treatment records from the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System are needed.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on multiple disabilities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for updated employment information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since February 22, 2016.

The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical spine and right upper extremity radiculopathy were granted, but his claim for an increased rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion due to his failure to appear at VA examinations scheduled in April 2015 and October 2015. The examiner will determine if the current condition is related to service or if it began during active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder are all found to be related to service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the severance of service connection for several conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's earlier period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including contacting the Veteran's former girlfriend and arranging a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is granted as her NOD was timely filed. The Board finds that the Veteran submitted new and material evidence within one year of the March 2016 rating decision, thus keeping her claims pending at the time of her submission of a Notice of Disagreement in April 2017.