Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and cataracts. The TBI residuals were remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disk disease (DDD), and a cervical spine disability, including DDD. The Veteran's current hip replacement was also not found to be related to service.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence of chronic low back or cervical spine disabilities during service or within one year post-service, and the medical evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical disc syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism due to insufficient evidence or data within the claims file. The Veteran's sleep disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a sleep disorder other than restless leg syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches was denied as the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 9413.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his National Guard and Army Reserve periods of service. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his right lower extremity sciatica. The remand includes obtaining clarification regarding the nature of the Veteran’s IVDS episodes and any physician-prescribed bedrest due to his spinal conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, knee, right-hand, ankle, neck, and foot conditions. The remand requires a new VA examination to address the nature of these disabilities and their relationship to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, and left shoulder disability as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of arthritis within one year after service and concluding that his current condition is not related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease, early degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, right knee strain, status post AC joint separation, right shoulder, right ankle strain, status post left wrist arthrotomy, scapholunate ligament reconstruction without Blatt capsulodesis, and dislocation of the left fourth extensor tendon, have been denied. The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for sprained right thumb with metacarpophalangeal joint instability, right 4th digit, status post fracture, with deformity of terminal phalanx, are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, and right elbow disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, numbness of the hands, acquired psychiatric disability, neck disability, and sleep apnea. The Board finds that further development is required to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine and left hip greater trochanteric bursitis for additional development, including new VA examinations to address range of motion during flare-ups and repeated use over time.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (bilateral shoulder and elbow conditions), bilateral wrist arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis. The claims for right foot gout and right foot condition (to include pes planus and plantar fasciitis) have been remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to very frequent prostrating attacks.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The evidence shows that his pain and limitation of motion do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his lumbar spine and cervical spine claims. Therefore, these issues must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,Specifically, the knee and ankle claims require compliance with the Court’s holding in Correia, and the bilateral elbow and ulnar nerve neuropathy claims require new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's spinal and nerve conditions due to outstanding VA treatment records and conflicting evidence regarding the nature and severity of his right lower extremity neuropathies.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less, a combined range of motion to 120 degrees or less, ankylosis, or abnormal gait or spinal contour.,The Veteran's residuals of cervical laminectomy do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.,The Veteran's left knee injury, degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in dislocated semilunar cartilage, ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, flexion limited to at least 30 degrees, or extension limited to at least 15 degrees.