Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral SI sclerosis, left and right foot DJD with mild plantar fasciitis, left knee arthralgia, and right knee subluxation and instability have been granted ratings. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder has also been established.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with right lower extremity radiculopathy, and degenerative changes of the sacroiliac joint.,Service connection is denied for arthritis other than arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, or sacroiliac joints, swollen joints, and hypertension.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, as the evidence is at least in equipoise that it originated during service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has not been established, as auditory thresholds did not meet criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has issued a remand to address the service connection claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and myasthenia gravis. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's March 27, 2014 Notice of Disagreement is valid and timely filed with respect to his initial disability evaluations for low back, cervical spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to the need for further adjudication on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for tension headaches, back disability, neck disability, radiculopathy (bilateral lower extremities), radiculopathy (right upper extremity), left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, allergies, and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations for each condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities due to insufficient reasons provided in the previous decision. The case is now pending with a new VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disorders. The case is now being returned to VA for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and osteoporosis of the spine and hips, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and insomnia, as well as cervical strain, are granted service connection. The issues of gastrointestinal disability other than IBS and hemorrhoids (to include stomach disability, GERD, hernia, and residuals of colon cancer), headache disability, and left shoulder disability are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for further development as the claim was not previously evaluated with a VA examination.,The left knee and neck disabilities are not being remanded as there is no new evidence relevant to these claims.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, PTSD, bronchial asthma, COPD, bilateral sciatica, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not having been obtained.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims regarding his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as there are inconsistencies in the examinations conducted prior to this decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right toe fracture and sesamoiditis, and irritable bowel syndrome have been granted. The issue of entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back and cervical spine conditions, as well as headaches and radiculopathies of the extremities, all secondary to service-connected pes planus. The claims were reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his left and right hip disabilities. The AOJ must obtain all relevant medical records and provide the Veteran with a Statement of the Case regarding the claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, back disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, shoulder and hip disabilities, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were not shown as chronic in service or related to a service-connected disability. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding these conditions being related to his military service to be speculative.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were first diagnosed 30 years after separation from service and are not considered to be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.