Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's neck disability. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability has been withdrawn.,Issues related to cervical strain, bilateral hand disability (including arthritis), and PTSD have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further development regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for records from Banner Health, and new addendum opinions are needed regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and documented in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and cervical curvature with degenerative disc disease were denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to inextricable interdependence with the cervical spine disability claim. The effective date of SMC based on need for aid and attendance (A&A) of the Veteran's spouse is granted as May 11, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as his need for assistance stems primarily from his non-service-connected cyclical vomiting syndrome.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary to obtain outstanding private treatment records and the Veteran employment information relevant to the time period prior to September 27, 2011. The TDIU claim was raised as part of a pending increased rating claim and remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his time in service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to March 22, 2018, and in excess of 20 percent from March 22, 2018 to October 30, 2019, and at 10 percent thereafter. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthrosis is granted a 20 percent rating from July 23, 2013 to May 12, 2019 and denied any higher rating thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to provide a VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not have its onset in service, was not caused by an in-service event, injury, disease, nor was it caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability. For his neck disability, the Board found that the VA examiner’s rationale for the negative nexus opinion was inadequate and remanded to obtain a more adequate opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability as there is no current evidence of such condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased compensation and service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection and increased rating for various conditions as the appellant withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a urinary disorder is denied.,Service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety has been expanded to include all psychiatric disabilities diagnosed. The claims of service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities are remanded due to incomplete records and need for an examination.,Service connection for right hip DJD, left hip DJD, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, right ankle DJD, left ankle DJD, right foot DJD, and left foot DJD is remanded as secondary to a low back disability. Service connection for right shoulder DJD, left shoulder DJD, right hand disability, and left hand disability is also remanded as secondary to a cervical spine disability.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinion. Service connection for skin disabilities is remanded due to incomplete records of private treatment.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU rating is inextricably intertwined with the other claims and must be deferred.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle condition, TBI, migraines, neck condition, back condition, and nerve condition. The claims are granted in part. However, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the left ankle condition, a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion from a suitable clinician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right arm radiculopathy, finding that he did not have a current disability at any time during the pendency of his claim or approximate thereto.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a back disorder, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's service records show neck pain in November 1968, but no current diagnosis or connection between his service and these conditions.