Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for lumbar-spine disorder, right-knee disorder, left-knee disorder, cervical spine disorder (to include as secondary to service-connected left-shoulder disorder), and increased disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left-shoulder disorder need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cervical disorder and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding service connection for bilateral knee disorders and a compensable rating for hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for cervical spondylosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is etiologically related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervicalgia and headaches, as these claims are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative spondylosis and right and left knee patellar-femoral degenerative changes, cause severe impairment such that he is unable to ambulate without an assistive device such as a wheelchair. The Board finds eligibility for specially adapted housing due to loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Reiter’s Syndrome is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claims for cervical spine arthritis and lumbar spine arthritis as secondary to his Reiter’s Syndrome, but remands these issues due to a lack of medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and effective date for TDIU due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran will need a new VA examination, and he is asked to provide additional information regarding his earned income.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities, as his service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition and that any current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service or a service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for skin cancer, cervical strain, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease is also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals to reopen his service connection claims for neck, right elbow, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a cervical spine disability due to inadequate examination and lack of medical opinion addressing service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, claimed as neck pain/injury, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with depressive disorder was denied in August 2007, and the effective date of service connection is set at February 7, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for cervical strain was denied in August 2007, and the effective date of service connection is set at August 12, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity associated with cervical strain was denied in August 2007, and the effective date of secondary service connection is set at August 12, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to new evidence received since the October 2014 Statement of the Case, including the Veteran's testimony about in-service injuries. The claims will be reviewed again with consideration of this additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for her lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and service connection for an upper back disability or cervical spine disability, to include as secondary to the service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and development needs.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, low back disorder (lumbar degenerative disc disease), and neck disorder (cervical strain) as these conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active military service.