Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, GERD, colon disorders, headache disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), eye disorders, low back and neck disorders, erectile dysfunction, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes. The decision also denied reopening of the claim for hypertension.

The Board denied restoration of service connection for cervical spine DDD, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to the finding that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 19, 2017 and denied a higher rating. From December 19, 2017 onwards, the Veteran's disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and muscle loss of the left arm and/or leg, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral arm, lumbar spine, and myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles disabilities. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are granted service connection.,Service connection for toxic nephropathy, spinal stenosis, and cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining issues, including respiratory disability, psychiatric disorder, cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, and foot disabilities, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions, including a neck disorder, groin condition, erectile dysfunction, and allergic rhinitis, were denied. The claim for service connection for the groin condition was also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for migraines and anal fissure. The remaining issues of remanding for further development have been identified.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death. Service connection claims were also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to evaluate her current severity of service-connected disabilities, including neck, shoulder, and hip injuries. The AOJ must also consider new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder with lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine disorder with upper extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the skin disability service connection is granted. The cervical, left knee, and right arm disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings and service connection, including obtaining updated VA examinations and clarifying etiology.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability and granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to service-connected cervical spine disability).

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of erectile dysfunction and right wrist disability as secondary to his service-connected left wrist disability. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service or a service-connected condition.,Regarding the left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, the Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether they are caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's education and work experience, particularly during the period relevant to the TDIU claim. The appellant is asked to provide a detailed statement of the Veteran’s business activities and income from these activities in each year between 2008 and 2014.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, as these conditions were already established in a previous decision. The cervical spine and low back disability claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.