Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability was dismissed because he withdrew his claim prior to the decision being made. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea and chest pain are remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and associated bilateral upper extremity neuropathy are remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his service-connected lumbar spine disability alternatively aggravates these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder has been reopened, but the appeal is denied as new and material evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied. The Veteran also seeks a TDIU on schedular and extraschedular bases, which are both granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for low testosterone and entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 20, 2013 for service connection for glaucoma. The remaining issues have been REMANDED for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but denied his claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to reopen for respiratory condition has been granted. The claims for weight loss, allergic rhinitis, neck disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and alcohol abuse have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disability secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability because new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, low back, and neck disabilities, as well as the reopening of claims for seizure disorder (now claimed as residuals of brain surgery) and bilateral hearing loss disability. The AOJ is instructed to verify all periods of active duty training and inactive duty training, obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and personnel records, and provide a response if records are unavailable.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for scars of the left wrist was dismissed. The claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine conditions were granted, with the cervical spine condition receiving an initial 10% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions and the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran currently has a cervical spine disability or associated functional loss, as well as whether any such disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a lack of compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete medical records. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, deviated septum, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, neck disability, and low back disability are all being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for cervical stenosis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, DJD of left shoulder, left knee disability, and left ankle fracture residuals. The Board found that there was no evidence in the service records supporting these conditions or their onset during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The issues include bilateral knee conditions, cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, bilateral ankle conditions, partial loss of use of lower extremities, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and secondary service connection. The main issue is that the claim for cervical fibrositis was previously denied but new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, frostbite of the right hand, frostbite of the left hand, frostbite of the right foot, frostbite of the left foot, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, fibromyalgia, ED, myelitis of the cervical spine, rheumatic myalgia, and skin disorder due to potential service connection based on exposure to petrochemical agents, lubricants, solvents and/or substances during active duty service. The VA will conduct additional examinations and obtain any necessary medical records to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is granted, and his appeals for service connection of neck disability and back disability, as well as an increased rating for PTSD are dismissed.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was denied increased ratings from February 23, 2009 to August 16, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.