Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for back, neck, bilateral neurologic disabilities of the lower and upper extremities, and a circulatory system disability, as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, neck disability, right knee disability, and PFB. The claims for sleep apnea are remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting his sinus disorder, cervical spine disorder, and peripheral neuropathy may be related to exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia. The appeals are now pending.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted as service-connected due to a one-year presumptive period following active service. The left knee ACL tear and instability are separately rated at 20 percent for the limitation of motion, with an additional 20 percent for the instability requiring a brace.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities were not found to meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to July 9, 2019. The Board denied all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's left foot hallux valgus disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no current diagnosis of sleep apnea in the Veteran's records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and sleep apnea have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to an extended period of temporary total evaluation beyond April 30, 2016 due to convalescence from his lumbar spine surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding her treatment records. The Veteran is required to identify any additional locations where she was treated in service, and VA must obtain those records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the fall during active service and the current condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective July 16, 2012. The Veteran also received SMC based on housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity disorder, and bilateral eye disorder due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep disability, including whether it is related to service or PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, PTSD, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities associated with Reiter's syndrome and awarded an effective date of April 3, 1997.

Service connection is granted for rheumatoid arthritis of the joints.,Service connection is granted for early onset peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to in-service herbicide exposure.,Service connection is granted for DDD of the cervical spine.,The claim for a higher rating for DDD of the lumbar spine is remanded.,The claims for service connection for neurological disorders of the right and left upper extremities are remanded.,The claims for service connection for difficulty breathing and extreme tiredness are remanded.,,

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is granted with a rating of 30 percent. The right-hand disability and joint pain disorder are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell cancer, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's conditions were not shown to be related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's initial rating for associated lumbar spine radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE), is remanded due to a lack of notification and the need for a current examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and this condition.