Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, tinnitus, left hip tenosynovitis, right hip tenosynovitis, and cervical spondylosis.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cervical spine disability as secondary to a service-connected condition have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support these claims.,Specifically, the VA examiner indicated that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, tinnitus due to an in-service disease, injury, or event, and cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected left clavicle fracture. The Board found that the Veteran's claims were denied based on lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,New evidence has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for neck disability and right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right sciatic radicular pain, right hip condition, right knee condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left hip condition, and left knee condition. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted as service connected. The claims for PTSD and neurological disorders are remanded.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for a neck disability, including as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected low back and neck disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least April 19, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking an increase in his rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, which may impact his radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for dizziness, which is claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability. The matter will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's left sterno-clavicular joint disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to April 1, 2019, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the issue for further development.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability with limitation of motion is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has also remanded this issue for further development.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has remanded the issue for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, back disability, right shoulder strain, and migraine disability as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spondylosis and his military service, specifically related to the use of welding helmets during service.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's cervical arthritis remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, effective September 28, 2021. The rating is in place from that date forward.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, Wegener's Granulomatosis (GPA), neck disability, and osteoarthritis of multiple parts due to insufficient examination reports.,The Veteran is currently service connected for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for his acquired psychiatric disability. The criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to concerns about the competency of VA examiners who conducted certain examinations in March 2015 and February 2017. The AOJ is instructed to secure additional credentialing information for these examiners.