Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and lumbar spine disorder have been granted. The claim for cervical spine disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for a head injury and cervical spine disorder was denied. The Board found that the submitted evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and there is no medical nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted as service-connected.,Increased ratings are required for cervical spine DJD, right shoulder arthritis, sarcoidosis, and bilateral pinguecula.,Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia, polyarthritis (claimed as polyarthritis), chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, and sleep disability. Additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's knee scars, right elbow disability, left great toe disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral ankle disability are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine djd with ddd is not service-connected as it did not begin during active duty and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. Service connection for GERD was granted.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability, which has been service-connected since July 6, 2011, is now effective as of February 26, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and thoracic lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, but denied service connection for left hip condition, left upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine, left shoulder impingement syndrome with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, and right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder), headaches, including migraines, and a low back disability. The other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to her mental and physical impairments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of consideration regarding pre-service onset or aggravation.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in service and is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for left shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for initial disability ratings higher than 10 percent for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease have been remanded.

The Veteran's right, left knee disabilities, neck disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), headaches, and ED have been granted service connection. A rating of 60 percent has also been assigned for the urethral stricture.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for osteoporosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The issues of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and IBS are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to March 3, 2016 and from that date has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for impairment of the ulnar nerve in both upper extremities, cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease with IVDS, and lumbar spine sprain with degeneration and desiccation of L4-L5 have been denied.,The Veteran’s service connection claims for erectile dysfunction (secondary to a service-connected disability), left shoulder disability, and right shoulder strain have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder as it was not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claims of increased ratings and TDIU were also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's requests to reopen service connection claims for various conditions were denied. The Board also remanded several issues, including a low back disability rating and hypertension rating.