Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to January 23, 2008 and denied a higher rating. From January 23, 2008, the Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 30 percent and also denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral occipital neuralgia was initially rated at 20 percent and denied a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination reports that did not include information on when pain began during range of motion testing.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating appeals, as well as his request for TDIU. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded both issues for further evaluation due to the need for a medical examination and clarification of diagnostic codes.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings for a left shoulder/arm disability, PTSD with depression, and spondylosis of the cervical spine. The appeal for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of plantar warts, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of various conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a cervical-thoracic spine condition, right and left ankle conditions, traumatic brain injury, and headaches. The Board found that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, right foot onychomycosis, and service-connected coronary artery disease were granted. The issues of service connection for arteriosclerosis, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, cervical disorder, headache disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, dental disorder, obesity, and left foot onychomycosis are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for Hypertension and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine, finding that these conditions are secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine disability had its onset during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, cervical spine, and chest pain. The remand requires additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions were aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and other specified trauma and stress related disorders.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine osteoarthritis due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding pre-existing spinal canal stenosis.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The reasons for this are that the most recent VA examination was conducted almost eleven years ago, which is deemed insufficient given the potential worsening of the conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and its relation to his military service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if he has a current cervical spine disorder related to his service.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disability. The case is remanded to determine if renal cell carcinoma is related to herbicide exposure and/or hypertension.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 20 percent disabling under DC 5242-5243, is not shown to warrant a higher rating as the evidence does not demonstrate forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claim for a nerve disorder of the right upper extremity, including peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, due to exposure to tactical herbicides. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for an appropriate healthcare provider to review the claims file and provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's nerve disorder had its onset during service or is due to an event or incident of his period of active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine arthritis and lumbar spine strain with disc bulge are granted. The Veteran also received a 10 percent rating for his bilateral hand eczema, but the initial ratings for right and left foot bunionectomies remain denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to assess his cervical spine disability and chronic pain syndrome.