Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left upper extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are denied. Service connection for the left trigeminal neuralgia is granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 27, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in severe physical limitations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to limitations in range of motion and functional loss.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to limitations in range of motion and functional loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, cervical spine, and right shoulder disorders are remanded due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA peripheral nerves examination to address the etiology and severity of his claimed cervical radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address due process issues and obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's employment prospects. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain has not been manifested by forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less, ankylosis, or an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour since June 18, 2013. Therefore, a higher rating than 20 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not originate in service, within a year of service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cervical spine disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the left upper extremity due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to an in-service jeep accident. The appeals are pending as the evidence does not establish a direct link between the claimed conditions and service, but there is some indication of such a link through the Veteran's statements.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis deformans, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, left knee disability (secondary to right foot fracture), and right knee disability (secondary to right foot fracture). The claim for loss of vision was also denied. No breathing disorder was diagnosed in the record.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence linking any current disabilities to military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claims for initial compensable evaluations of left knee strain, right knee strain, and right thumb strain. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, finding that his condition was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected low back disability. The VA examiners provided opinions supporting this conclusion.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for OSA, hypertension, and headaches have been withdrawn. The claims of higher disability ratings for bilateral knee instability, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as he is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, back condition, and cervical spine condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and denied entitlement to SMC and TDIU prior to April 8, 2013. The Veteran's current disability was not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Board found that the evidence did not support finding a causal link between the cervical spine disorder and an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of STRs and the need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.