Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease and disc disease of the neck / cervical spine, anxiety disorder, cephalgia, bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, pulmonary disability, and stroke pathology/_residuals were granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for basal cell carcinoma on the right shoulder is denied as there is no evidence linking it to his active duty.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 28, 2015 due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for gout, a bilateral foot disability (other than arthritis), and arthritis of multiple joints, excluding the right shoulder, right elbow, cervical spine and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's initial rating for chronic sinusitis is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for a neck disability is denied due to lack of in-service onset or link.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, specifically regarding the Veteran's left knee patellar femoral pain syndrome. The RO is instructed to obtain VA treatment records and provide a new VA opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally or etiologically related to his military service and does not result from his service-connected right shoulder condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus on the right foot, arthritis in both feet (right and left), and a right wrist disability including ganglion cyst.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a right-hand disability has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claim.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of current disability or during service.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is denied as there is no evidence of current disability or during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and MDD) is remanded due to the need for additional opinion regarding both conditions.,Service connection for a right leg disability, left leg disability, back disability, neck disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and right heel/foot disability are all remanded as there is insufficient examination reports addressing all relevant medical evidence of record.,reasoning_summary

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability as the Veteran's preexisting condition did not become aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disorder and neck/cervical spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA addendum opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected cervical dystonia and his diagnosed spine disorders. The case must be returned for adequate VA addendum opinions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision loss as secondary to diabetes mellitus, headaches as secondary to diabetes mellitus, a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, and right knee disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of onset during qualifying service or any related disease or injury in service.,The Board also denied service connection for these conditions based on secondary service connection to diabetes mellitus, which was previously denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine condition and rash of the legs, back, and feet due to new evidence received since the May 2015 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has not fully complied with previous remand directives and the appeal for service connection of back and neck disorders is being sent back for further development.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his cervical spine disability and other conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's tingling in his right arm is not service-connected as it is related to a service-connected disability (cervical spine) or due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis and spondylosis are not service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Board also denied increased ratings for his cervical spine and major depressive disorder disabilities.