Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for high cholesterol, PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, scar from cesarean sections, hysterectomy, left oophorectomy, tinnitus, pelvic pain after childbirth, right shoulder dislocation, rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as allergies), bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, eczema, lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and severe alopecia (claimed as cicatrical scarring alopecia) for additional development to verify service records.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is required to attend VA examinations for these issues.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical spine disability, TBI residuals (memory loss), and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted. The claims for increased ratings of left knee instability and semilunar cartilage condition as well as right knee instability are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for back, neck, left shoulder, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity disorders on a direct basis. The Veteran's current diagnoses of DJD (degenerative joint disease) of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hips, and shoulders are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's posttraumatic chronic cervical strain is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic chronic lumbar strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted with specific ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder, and restless leg syndrome have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical strain with stenosis and degenerative arthritis is related to his service-connected right shoulder condition, but needs further clarification due to a lack of adequate rationale in the previous medical opinion.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, valvular heart disease, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as upper extremity radiculopathies are being remanded due to the need for new examinations. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and headaches. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for cervical osteoarthritis with stenosis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for right elbow and left shoulder conditions, as well as his service connection claims for cervical spine, low back, and right lower extremity radiculopathy/peroneal neuropathy are all remanded due to insufficient examination reports.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings on neck disability, right knee disorder, PTSD, sinusitis, and hypertension are in need of further development due to the possibility of worsening since his last VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with these rating claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected surgical neck scar and painful right posterior neck scar, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in severity prior to September 16, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as notifying the Veteran of the factors pertinent to establishing entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to new evidence received since a previous final decision. The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and nerve damage to the arms.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for her cervical spine disability was denied. The VA determined that the disability manifested with pain and limitation of motion, but without ankylosis or analogous restriction of motion throughout the period on appeal.

All service connection claims for various conditions have been dismissed.,The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic injuries and PTSD.