Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition, finding that the evidence does not support a link between his current disability and his military service.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's cervical, lumbar, and bilateral knee conditions due to inconsistent results from previous VA examinations. The Veteran's skin condition is also remanded as her current diagnosis does not align with her claimed acne. The right and left ankle disabilities are also remanded as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding their relationship to service-connected lower back strain.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is aggravated by his service-connected kyphoscoliosis.

The Veteran's cervical disc herniation with C6 radiculopathy is related to a neck injury during his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in July 2011, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives regarding a cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical neck strain with posttraumatic cervical myositis prior to November 15, 2018 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical neck strain with posttraumatic cervical myositis after November 15, 2018 was also denied.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right knee osteoarthritis and osteochondritis dessicans was denied. The TDIU claim is remanded due to its inextricability with the ongoing increased rating claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during active duty and has persisted since then. The claims for left knee disorder and cervical spine disorder were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals prior to a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and bilateral cervical radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing a more detailed opinion regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the recoupment of separation pay through withholding of disability compensation payments is proper and remands for further development regarding the level of severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities during his first period of service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, headaches, depression, and penis disability (ED) due to inadequate examinations that did not consider lay evidence of symptoms from service. The Veteran's service records do not provide a clear picture of his pre-service health or any in-service injuries.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of bilateral upper extremities has been granted, with a rating of 30 percent. The other conditions and issues have either not met the criteria for higher ratings or were denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or caused by any incident of active service, and it has not been aggravated or caused by his low back disability.,The Veteran’s left upper extremity sensory peripheral neuropathy is less likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The decision states that the Veteran's service-connected condition does not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an upper back disability and a right knee disability due to unclear diagnoses and inadequate examination findings. The claims are pending further clarification.

The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and cervical spine disability are granted. The right hip and left foot disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision to reduce the Veteran's rating for arthritis of the right ankle from 10% to 0% in November 2001 was correct. The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, which he claims are related to his military service. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed neck disability. The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for dental disability is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, left hip, and neck conditions due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection is also not granted for a low back condition, left knee condition, or right shoulder condition as there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.