Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The remaining issues have been remanded due to need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's neck disability and his service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is service-connected. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding his cervical spine condition, the case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation of why the April 2018 VA examination was adequate for determining the current severity of the service-connected cervical spine disability. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine the extent of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine arthritis, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee disability, and left elbow carpal tunnel syndrome with ulnar nerve involvement have been denied. The VA has determined that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective September 21, 2011. The issue of radiculopathy associated with this condition is also remanded.,Service connection for left knee disorder and right ankle disorder are both denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, sleep disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson disease, circulatory disability, gastroesophageal disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities has been granted. The claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, bilateral upper extremity frostbite residuals, bilateral lower extremity frostbite residuals, bilateral foot disability, skin disability, and service connection for a lumbar spine disability have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left and right knee conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to asbestos exposure and service treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The left and right ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination, and the neck disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, but the exact nature of his knee, back, cervical spine, and diabetes mellitus disabilities is unclear.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of August 26, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back condition, cervical spondylosis, left ankle condition, sinus problems, traumatic brain injury, and abdominal muscle condition. The decision is based on a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.,The Board found that the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injuries were inconsistent and unreliable, casting doubt on their credibility.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and a left hip disability on a secondary basis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these disabilities are related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation for the Veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine disability, right and left shoulder disabilities, radiculopathy of the upper right extremity, thoracic strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran is permanently housebound by reason of these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations and the Board will consider new evidence in their next decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a brace used for his service-connected back disability and topical medication used for his service-connected eczema in 2018, as there was no evidence that these items caused significant damage to his clothes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation for denying service connection for a right leg disability, including right leg lengthening.,Additional development is needed to determine if the leg length discrepancy constitutes a recognized disability.

Your claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, has been remanded. The Board found that the current opinion regarding the etiology of your psychiatric condition is insufficient.,The issues of service connection for neck and back disabilities have also been remanded as there are incomplete opinions regarding whether these conditions are secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to clarify whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.