Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hypertension, thus denying the claim. For other conditions, the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has decided the character of discharge for the appellant's service from February 1974 to July 1976 and remanded the issues regarding his claims for respiratory disorder and cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's gout is granted as secondary to service-connected renal disease.,Degenerative arthritis/osteoarthritis/DJD of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and hips are granted as secondary to service-connected osteopenia.

Service connection is granted for a right shoulder disability.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hand, wrists, hip, knee, elbow, ankle, and foot disabilities.,Service connection is denied for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition, left and right upper extremity nerve pain and numbness, and left and right hand swelling and pain are being remanded for further examination.,New evidence has been received to warrant the readjudication of claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity nerve pain and numbness, as well as left and right hand swelling and pain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleeping disorder has been denied as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of this condition.,Service connection for PTSD and right hand disability have also been denied, with effective dates set at September 17, 2015.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for right hip disorder, right leg disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to the appellant withdrawing his appeal.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for DDD of the cervical spine, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder is dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, neck disability, and left hip disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted service connection due to the presumption of aggravation. The right shoulder, cervical spine, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities were denied as not related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's neck, low back, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination opinions and missing medical records.

Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left eye iritis was denied.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, ruptured right ear drum (healed), and kidney disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the May 1963 automobile accident.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to verify his last date of gainful employment and determine if an extraschedular TDIU was warranted for the period from that date to June 23, 2008.,From July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2011, a TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability, as it is unclear whether he was notified of the scheduled examination and if he missed it. The VA examiner should provide an opinion on whether his cervical spine disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has dismissed all the claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder, hip, knee and hand/finger disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and left leg disability (other than left lower extremity radiculopathy) as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service.