Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for neck and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient development, but did not reach a decision on these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left leg disability, but has remanded cases involving his neck and back disabilities due to insufficient examination opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Other claims for service connection are remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for a cervical spine disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and seizure disorder is denied.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of an opinion on the relationship between service-connected PTSD and GERD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions have been withdrawn. The claims for right ankle disability, chronic kidney disability, and PTSD rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examination or evidence. The claim for chronic kidney disease has been reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent, the lumbar spine disability at 20 percent, left and right wrist disabilities at 10 percent each, bilateral ankle disabilities at 10 percent each, and elbow disabilities (excluding pronation) at 10 percent each. TDIU was granted on an extraschedular basis from September 21, 2007 until June 8, 2009, and then effective June 8, 2009.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and cervical spine disorder due to new and material evidence having been received.

The Board granted service connection for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and an initial 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease right knee, status post arthroscopy meniscal surgery from November 19, 2013 to June 14, 2015.

The Veteran's right knee instability and meniscus problems are granted a 10% rating, while his left knee arthritis is granted a 10% rating. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service and concluding that any degenerative arthritis in his neck was likely due to aging and wear and tear.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical degenerative arthritis prior to August 23, 2018, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current condition to his active service or any other conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a chronic digestive disorder, including recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea/constipation (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome), is granted. Service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities due to a lack of discussion regarding potentially favorable evidence from a 1970 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims. The Board affirmed the denial of these claims in multiple decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral upper extremity, left lower extremity, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and headache disabilities due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations and missing records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of the case as he died during the pendency of the appeal.