Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder are granted as service connected. The cervical spine, eye, traumatic brain injury, and headaches issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board also remanded the cases of his cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient development of evidence regarding service connection for back and neck disorders. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent since July 11, 2016.

Service connection has been granted for depression, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea. An effective date prior to December 22, 2014 for service connection of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.,A 10% evaluation for mechanical lower back pain was granted with an effective date of February 6, 2014. Claims for earlier effective dates were dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of cervical spine disorder and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus, a lumbar spine disability, and right knee disabilities were granted. The claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture, left-hand fracture, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, and TBI, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The decision is pending further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left leg disabilities. The right thigh scar, myositis, enchondroma, and right knee arthritis are also being remanded due to changes in applicable law affecting their rating determinations.

The Veteran's neck disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion. The rating reduction from PTSD is also being remanded as an SOC has not yet been issued.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and a neck disability, including as secondary to his bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow condition, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders and awarded a 10% disability rating effective August 9, 2016. The claims for low back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, and acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The Board is requesting verification of herbicide agent exposure, obtaining treatment records, and seeking addendum opinions on the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, psychiatric, and headache disabilities due to in-service injuries. The VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or not. Additionally, medical opinions are required regarding the causes of ED, low testosterone, GERD, constipation, and OSA.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete requests in the previous remand.