Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left hand swelling, and right arm numbness due to conflicting medical evidence. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided on their merits.

The Veteran's service connection claims for the residuals of a broken sternum, thoracolumbosacral degenerative arthritis, and injuries to the cervical spine and coccyx are granted. The claim for injuries to the coccyx is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the remaining issues due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for a back disability. The Veteran needs a medical opinion from an orthopedic provider to determine if his current spinal disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and dizziness need further examination and opinion to determine if they are related to her military service. The issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability secondary to his low back disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability due to incomplete records and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disorders. The Veteran's claims of bilateral arm numbness and chronic headaches were also denied as secondary to a cervical spine disorder.,Service connection was not established on the basis that these conditions began during or within one year following service, or as a result of an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for verification of all periods of service, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. The Veteran's neck disability is being examined again as it is inextricably intertwined with the scar claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the appeal may be adjudicated on the merits, specifically a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected bilateral shoulder, lumbar spine and right wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine and upper extremity radiculopathy conditions are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, cervical spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that his current condition did not manifest within one year of separation and was not causally related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed personal assault stressor and obtaining medical opinions regarding his diagnoses and service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for his daily needs, requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds that he needed assistance with all activities of daily living due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have been granted.,New evidence has been submitted that relates to the unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, and the preponderance of the evidence supports the current 30 percent rating.

The Board has denied the initial compensable rating for cervical and lumbar spine surgery scars, but has remanded the SMC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for neck, right ankle, left ankle, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development. The claim of skin disability of the hands is also remanded. The loss of sense of smell claim requires further examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for prostate cancer residuals. The claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disability (including peptic ulcers), sleep apnea, skin disability (to include chloracne), Dupuytren’s contracture, Peyronie's disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and cervical carpal tunnel syndrome have been denied as not related to service.