Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination and medical opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for penis deformity, loss of erectile power, and benign prostatic hypertrophy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPH is being remanded due to the need for an additional VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no evidence that his tinnitus began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including intervertebral disc syndrome, is currently rated at 20 percent prior to July 5, 2018 and at 40 percent since that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The right shin disability claim is dismissed as withdrawn by the Veteran. The COPD rating remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran’s appeal is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected conditions, as well as additional evidence regarding his claims. The appeals are not related to a presumption or exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities did not begin during active service, or are otherwise related to an in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection of ankylosing spondylitis, bilateral hip degenerative joint disease, a bilateral eye disability, psoriasis, a cervical spine disability, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy as these issues have been rendered moot due to their resolution in favor of the Veteran. The claim for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the right foot was granted on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the threshold schedular TDIU criteria and have resolved all doubt in favor of the claim, granting a TDIU.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain and arthritis with impingement are currently rated at 20 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion.,The Veteran's right shoulder strain with impingement is also rated at 20 percent, and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion.,The Veteran’s degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not demonstrate limitation of motion.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and right wrist disability including CTS. The appeals of service connection for heart disease, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the upper extremities, and PTSD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a chronic right hand disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, memory loss due to TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee instability are all remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of increased severity since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, cervical spine disorder, headaches, left and right plantar fasciitis are all granted service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus and foot injuries remain in dispute.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of whether her low back pain, cervical spine condition, and right sciatic nerve damage are related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and sleep disorder due to insufficient medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to provide a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's TBI claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and no causal relationship to service has been established.,Left shoulder degenerative joint disease was also denied as there is no in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's current condition does not appear related to service.,Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied due to lack of an in-service injury or disease, and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service.,Radiculopathy associated with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is also denied as there is no direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cardiomyopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, colonic diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, rectum condition, and stomach condition are all denied as they are not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's service connection claims for sinus condition secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, gastrointestinal disability, and evaluation of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to incomplete examinations and conflicting diagnoses. The Veteran will need further evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the omission of potentially relevant private medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, left knee strain residuals, and right knee strain residuals. The evidence does not establish a chronic condition that manifested to a compensable degree in service or within a presumptive period, nor is continuity of symptomatology established.