Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine injury, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee condition, right knee condition, left foot condition (to include pes planus, plantar spurs, and fasciitis), right foot condition (to include pes planus, plantar spurs, and fasciitis), cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, bilateral sciatic neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and low back disability, as well as secondary service connection for GERD due to lack of adequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's left wrist strain, medial antebrachial nerve injury, and carpal tunnel syndrome are productive of neuropathy and moderate, incomplete paralysis. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for these conditions.

Service connection is granted for cervical strain and compression fracture, thoracic T9 spine.,An earlier effective date of May 2, 2017, for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate the claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left hand scar and psychiatric disorders. The appellant will be asked to provide additional details about her husband's in-service injuries and medical records will be sought.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spinal injuries, including lumbar and cervical spine DDD, are at least as likely as not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete consideration of staged ratings, additional VA medical records, and need for a new examination for his TBI.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine disorder, chronic cervical spine disorder, chronic right shoulder disorder, chronic left knee disorder, and chronic right knee disorder. The evidence did not show a diagnosis of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's separation from active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, claimed as ischemic heart disease and other than hypertension, a cervical spine disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, low back disability, psychiatric disability (PTSD), left elbow disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension have all been denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded as there are no audiological examination results to determine if he currently has a disability.,The Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, headaches (secondary to cervical spine disability), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to cervical spine disability) are being remanded due to the need for VA examination to assess current conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about potential negligence or fault in prescribing Prazosin, which caused her tailbone and hip injuries as well as heart issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and either his period of service or any service-connected conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), increased initial disability ratings for his lumbar spine, cervical spine, migraine headaches, dysphagia, and right shoulder conditions, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, cervical condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examinations and exposure to burn pits during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left wrist disability have been granted increased ratings. The cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the RUE and LUE radiculopathies are each rated at 20 percent, and the left wrist disability is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all issues of entitlement to service connection or disability ratings for various conditions as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a neck disability as there is insufficient evidence regarding its onset during service or its relation to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical back disorder due to lack of evidence showing the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical degenerative joint disease and cervical radiculopathy are related to his active service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.