Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was reopened and granted. The claims for sleep apnea, hiatal hernia (claimed as GERD), and pes planus are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, effective from the entire period on appeal (excluding periods of surgical convalescence), and a 20 percent rating for her degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine L5-S1. The ratings are based on the severity of the Veteran’s symptoms as determined by VA examinations.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's neck disability has not manifested to a degree warranting an increased rating exceeding 20 percent, as his range of motion is limited but does not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to pain and functional loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder had its onset during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine and low back disorders due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for cervical spine and left knee conditions have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for Prinzmetal's angina on a presumptive basis due to exposure to Agent Orange, and has also granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected conditions is 50%, and she is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her migraines. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated as 10 percent prior to November 26, 2019 and 20 percent thereafter. The issues of left thigh limitation of extension and right hip limitation of extension are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, finding that it is causally related to his active military service. The TDIU claim was also granted from February 2004.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity nerve disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran must be provided with new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left ankle and right shoulder disabilities have been dismissed. The claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for chest pains, service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, color blindness, flat feet, and neck disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to incomplete investigation of the Veteran's reported in-service injury. The AOJ is instructed to contact the JSRRC to verify the claimed inservice injury and obtain any missing morning reports.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various injuries and dental disabilities due to incomplete development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, loss of feeling in upper and lower extremities, and joint failure. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for diabetes mellitus, type II.