Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's cervical, thoracolumbar spine, left knee and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The Veteran is also granted an initial 70 percent rating for his traumatic brain injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The issues include evaluating his post-operative residuals, dislocation of the AC joint, and entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation and TDIU.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to SMC at the maximum rate authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) and an increased level of SMC based on the need for a higher level of care at the rate specified under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Lyme disease and its related conditions due to newly added VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have not been fully developed and requires additional development before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the appeal is denied. The issues of reopening claims for internal hemorrhoids and loss of movement and strength of the left hand have been reopened.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, respiratory (bronchitis), sinus, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for right wrist degenerative joint disease from December 29, 2015 has been dismissed. The issues of service connection for back and neck disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral strain disabilities are granted with a 20% rating effective August 31, 2009. The Board has remanded the remaining service connection issues for further development.

The Veteran's bruxism is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, TBI residuals, and bilateral chronic myogenic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity is denied as there is no evidence it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent due to mild incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's right ankle disability has never resulted in marked limited motion and thus, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Parkinson's disease, herniated cervical disc, and herniated thoracolumbar disc due to incomplete development.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, finding that the Veteran did not submit a claim prior to June 14, 2013.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims related to increased ratings for various osteoarthritis conditions and knee disabilities. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, specifically obesity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but the issues remain unresolved as they are still being reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate range of motion testing in the previous VA examination. A new examination is required to assess the current severity and functional loss of the Veteran's cervical spine arthritis.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the residuals of heat stroke, eye disability, nocturia, neck disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left foot disability. The Veteran's service records indicate he was diagnosed with heat stroke in June 1976.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying employment history.