Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, low back disability, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder are all granted with initial ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran is now rated at 40% for his service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities effective March 15, 2018. His service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is also rated at 20% effective March 15, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, a sleeping disorder, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, GERD, and cervical spine disorder. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or a causal link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of fractured left ankle and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and right leg shortening, but denied service connection for a cervical spine fracture. The decision is based on new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's injury in service is the cause of his current condition.

The Veteran's ureterolithiasis is rated at 30 percent. The claims for service connection of lumbar spine disability, right arm and shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, sleep apnea, and heart disability (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted service connection.,Service connection for a neck disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or event.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, spinal condition (cervical and lumbar degenerative disease), right shoulder disorder, hypertension, and skin disorder (psoriasis).,The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) are denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or IVDS. The current ratings adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and unclear scope of his claim. The Veteran is required to clarify which residuals from his in-service electrical shock injury he wishes to have service-connected, and VA will obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address service connection for a cervical spine disability, as well as whether the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy with arthritis and impingement syndrome is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's service connection claim. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his neck and back issues, which he attributes to his military duties as a jet pilot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for right upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability and his claim for headaches due to in-service combat injuries.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for PTSD, cervical spine disability, and right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the prior decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right hip, and left hip conditions due to a lack of adequate reasons and bases in the previous decision. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current cervical spine and bilateral hip conditions.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy/neuropathy disabilities as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 3, 2009 and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter for a lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not establish that the Veteran’s disabilities were proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected collar bone condition.

The Veteran's claim that the January 2007 rating decision assigning a duplicate 20 percent rating for cervical disc disease was in error is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination, as well as a formal TDIU application.