Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (associated with IVDS with arthritis of the cervical spine) is granted an effective date of January 28, 2016. The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea and earlier effective dates for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, urinary incontinence, and bowel incontinence are denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted service connection. An initial separate rating of at least 10 percent for right knee instability and a separate 20 percent rating for right knee locking symptoms are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional evaluations of the Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, traumatic brain injury, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted as service-connected.,Reasoning: The Board found that the Veteran experienced in-service falls and concussions which led to current disabilities. After resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board determined these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient new and material evidence to reopen his claim for a lumbar vertebral mass, but granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and migraine headaches. Service connection was also denied for neck disability and arthritis of the right foot.

The Veteran's service connection for cervical spine injury and radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities is granted effective June 11, 2012. The initial ratings for these conditions remain at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and secondary service connection for migraines with blurred vision. The Veteran's neck disability is related to his active military service, and his migraines are linked to this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) on the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability, which is related to pre-existing left hip and/or left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development, including a need for new VA examinations. The issues include spinal disorders and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including a cervical spine disability and associated upper extremity conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), are being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for various disabilities, including low back, neck, knee, ankle, and foot injuries sustained during military service. The Veteran's contentions include injuries from falling off helicopters and hitting his head and back in 1999, as well as knee and ankle injuries in 2000. VA is instructed to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine if these disabilities are related to his service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD and granted service connection, but denied claims for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for cervical spine disability and service connection for a right shoulder condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher disability ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are permanently aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder and right knee disabilities, respectively. The VA examiners' opinions do not address whether there was an incremental increase in disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate previous examinations. The Board requires additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back injury. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and radiculopathy, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no credible evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The claim for service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disorder is dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, left knee disorder, and cervical and lumbar spine disorder are granted. The claims for right knee disorder and bilateral hip disorder are remanded.