Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate rationale in previous VA examinations and a need for an additional examination considering the Veteran's altered gait theory.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for his service-connected cervical spine spondylosis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine is granted service connection.,His IVDS of the lumbar spine has been restored to a 40 percent rating, and his TDIU is also restored.,Effective April 26, 2012, he received separate compensable ratings for femoral radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has identified errors in the VA examination opinions related to the Veteran's hearing loss and neck disabilities, and thus remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and right hand disabilities are being remanded for further examination to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to unclear evidence regarding whether he had IHD at any point during his service. The Veteran is also denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions, as well as neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's neck disability and headaches are being remanded for further investigation due to missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder disorders and cervical spine and lower back disorders due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's service treatment records do not consistently document current disabilities, and no competent medical provider has diagnosed any of these conditions.

The Veteran's neck disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right hip disorder were denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss was reopened but not granted. All issues related to these conditions are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since November 15, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, foot disorders, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, prostate condition, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these areas or a causal link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is caused by or related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a mental health disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service service.,The Veteran's cervical strain was rated at 10% since the onset of the claim period, with no higher rating warranted due to limited motion and painful movement.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for back disability, neck disability, and tinnitus as they were not related to his National Guard service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims prior to the promulgation of a decision.,The Veteran also withdrew his claim seeking an earlier effective date for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's death was caused by improper VA care, and if so, whether it contributed to his cause of death. The appellant claims that her husband developed a pressure ulcer during his VA hospitalization which led to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, low back, left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for limitation of abduction of the right hip; an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of extension of the right hip; and an initial compensable disability rating for limitation of flexion of the right hip prior to February 13, 2017 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to failure of the Veteran to report VA examinations scheduled in September 2015. The issues on appeal include service connection for various disabilities, including low back pain, right hip disability, cervical spine disability, and psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, right shoulder disability, and headache disability due to lack of STRs and need for further medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for upper back/cervical spine disability and left knee disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's disabilities are related to improper sleeping positions, arthritis from his service-connected conditions, and gait changes.