Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's left foot condition, neck condition, and low back condition are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gynecological disorder, but has remanded it for further development. The Veteran's psychiatric condition is also being remanded due to incomplete records from her treatment providers.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities, finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a 20% rating, effective from April 17, 2017. The Veteran's back disability and neck disability are denied.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, right arm, and right hand disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began in service or were related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right shoulder and cervical spine disorders due to insufficient examination reports, lack of medical treatment records, and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded both claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and cervical spine disability due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of head trauma, manifested as headaches; an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbar spine disability prior to December 11, 2017; and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a cervical spine disability due to inadequate reasons and bases in the May 2018 decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and disc herniation, as well as his cervical strain and disc herniation. The claims were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial in October 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of cervical and lumbar spine disorders, as they need further examination due to lack of review of the claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left-hand disability, finding that his current diagnoses are not related to service and did not manifest within a presumptive period.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal for each issue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated at 20%, the right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy at 20%, and the left arm radiculopathy at 20%. A TDIU effective from October 11, 2011, was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, and left hip disability due to insufficient medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (claimed as hand condition secondary to neck and back) claims need further examination and opinion due to insufficient information.

The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical strain prior to September 28, 2010 and prior to March 9, 2018 are denied. The Veteran's increased rating for cervical strain from March 9, 2018 forward is granted at a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 28, 2017.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 30 percent, but he is seeking a higher rating. The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral knee conditions, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, muscle tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination opinions and new evidence submitted.