Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran is granted separate 10 percent ratings for seronegative spondyloarthropathy and ankylosing spondylitis of the right foot and toes, left foot and toes, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right hand and fingers, left hand and fingers, right wrist, left wrist, and right ankle and left ankle.,The combined ratings for these conditions exceed the rating assigned under DC 5003.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to herbicide agents, as the legal standard regarding in-service exposure has changed. The Veteran served aboard a ship that was in 'official waters' of Vietnam during parts of his active duty.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis prior to August 28, 2013. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied since August 28, 2013. Other issues are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability due to Klippel-Feal syndrome. The issues of service connection for back, left leg nerve, and right leg nerve conditions secondary to the neck disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic in-service disease or injury. The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative changes at L5/S1 was also denied as the Veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, bilateral toe, low back, and neck disabilities. The reasons include that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between his current conditions and his active duty service or service-connected right foot disability.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for left ankle sprain, as new and material evidence was not received to relate a current disability to service or service-connected conditions.,The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for left shoulder arthritis, as new and material evidence was not received to relate a current disability to service or service-connected conditions.,The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for right hip disorder, secondary to the service-connected degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with thoracic scoliosis and amputation of the left fifth toe, as new and material evidence was not received to relate a current disability to service or service-connected conditions.,The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for cervical spondylosis, secondary to the service-connected degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with thoracic scoliosis and amputation of the left fifth toe, as new and material evidence was not received to relate a current disability to service or service-connected conditions.,The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for left great toe disability, secondary to the service-connected plantar fasciitis, as new and material evidence was not received to relate a current disability to service or service-connected conditions.,The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for left hip disorder, secondary to the service-connected plantar fasciitis, as new and material evidence was not received to relate a current disability to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder have been dismissed as the appeals were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, migraines, a neck disability, a pulmonary disability, bilateral knee disabilities, hernia, sciatic nerve disability, bilateral foot disabilities, frostbite, and hypertension. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missed VA examinations. The Veteran and his representative have provided updated contact information, but attempts to schedule the necessary examinations were not successful.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar sprain are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has reopened the claims for neck, right shoulder, and migraine headache disabilities due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for restoration of a 20% disability rating for cervical spine disability and a higher rating for right knee disability with arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support restoration of the 20% rating for cervical spine disability due to improvement in the condition, while finding no basis to grant a higher rating for right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues of heart condition, neurological disorders of the legs, and chronic fatigue syndrome have been denied on the basis of no current disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination due to inadequate previous opinions and the need to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Veteran's claimed psychiatric symptoms were not found during the VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection claim is decided on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim is remanded due to insufficient medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as bilateral plantar fasciitis, is granted service connection on a secondary basis to his service-connected Reiter’s Syndrome. The Board also granted service connection for the cervical spine disability and remanded other issues.