Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and thoracic spine low back pain, as well as her cervical spine condition, did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, are not otherwise causally related to service, and were neither proximately due to nor aggravated beyond their natural progression by a service-connected disability. As such, these conditions have not been established as being related to service.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records and authorized medical records from the Veteran's providers. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted for the lumbar spine, left elbow, and right knee disabilities. The cervical spine disability claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various back, foot, and spine conditions due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining in-patient STRs and an orthopedic opinion to determine if the condition is related to service.

The Veteran's skin condition (psoriasis) and cervical neck disability are both granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tension and migraine headaches, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine, a stomach disability, and Barrett's Esophagus due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and bilateral radiculopathy of the upper extremities, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to lower back disability, and TDIU due to conflicting evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, and the case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee disability and the severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.,The Board has remanded several issues including service connection and ratings for various disabilities due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2018 RAMP opt-in.,Issues include left eye occipital neuralgia, lower extremity sciatica, upper extremity radiculopathy, herpes simplex virus, adjustment disorder with anxiety/depression, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, stroke/vertebral artery dissection, thoracolumbar strain, cervical strain, and scars from hernia repair.,The Veteran's service connection claims for lower and upper extremity sciatica and radiculopathy are remanded due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2018 RAMP opt-in. VA treatment records need to be obtained from non-VA providers.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims will be reviewed again, and additional medical records may need to be obtained.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine L3-4 through L5-S1 with herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 and multiple herniated nuclei pulposi at the cervical spine, finding that the original grants were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine condition was reopened and denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,A rating above 10 percent is granted for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) since October 24, 2016. The right ankle scar remains at 10 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating from October 24, 2015 to October 23, 2016 and above 10 percent since that date is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain treatment records from Dr. P and any other physicians, as well as information about a reported in-service incident.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and kidney stones, but has remanded all other issues due to outstanding records. The cervical spine disorder claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain was granted with a 20 percent rating, while his claim for service connection for a mid/lower back condition was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.