Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded three issues: rating for residuals of left ulnar neuropathy, service connection for a cervical spine disability, and service connection for a right elbow disability. The Veteran's examinations were not rescheduled despite his attempts to do so.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and right shoulder disability are still pending as they require further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and right arm/ hand numbness are remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation for choosing January 8, 2018 as the effective date for increasing the Veteran's cervical spine disability rating beyond 20 percent. The VA examiner is requested to provide a retrospective opinion on the severity of the Veteran’s cervical spine disability prior to January 8, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating claims.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent disability rating for cervical spine spondylosis prior to March 8, 2018 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right wrist degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,A 30 percent disability rating is granted for PTSD from June 1, 2010 to September 10, 2014. A higher rating is denied.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates have been dismissed. A rating of 50 percent has been granted for posttraumatic cephalgia with migraine headaches from September 19, 2011 to June 17, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding Reserve records and other missing medical evidence. The claims include hypoglycemia, infertility due to pyridostigmine bromide exposure, scars of the trunk and extremities, urticaria with dermographism (claimed as rash, skin allergy, cyst, benign skin growth), residuals of cervical cancer, hyperactive immune response, and a chronic disability manifested by blood sugar regulation problems and low blood sugar. The Board also requested additional VA examinations to address these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical strain and denied service connection for left piriformis syndrome. TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine condition from April 22, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right upper extremity CTS with cervical radiculopathy have been rated, but the Board has found that additional development is needed for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for migraine headaches was not granted as the attacks did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and the GERD rating was also denied due to insufficient evidence of considerable impairment. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder was denied because there was no in-service injury or disease that caused the condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected back strain with early arthritis and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of the assigned evaluations for his service-connected back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, left lower extremity neurological impairment, and right lower extremity neurological impairment have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all remaining issues associated with these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, particularly for the cervical spine disability. The lumbar spine disability has already been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The Veteran's cervical strain and migraine headaches have been granted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and right upper extremity disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining substantial gainful employment, as the evidence does not show that they cause her to be unable to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no medical nexus between the condition and either active service or a service-connected disability.