Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbosacral spine disability and right knee internal derangement, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 19, 2018.,The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 40 percent for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 7, 2010 to July 22, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, including right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (PTSD, panic disorder, depressive disorder), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye pterygium have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear diagnoses and lack of opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left upper extremity nerve condition, including carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for cervical spine disability and neurological disabilities of the right and left upper extremities. The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), on an aggravation basis. Service connection was also granted for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DDD.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for cervical disc disorder, back disability, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. These issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no credible evidence to support his contention of in-service injury or chronicity of symptoms. The Board also found that the current cervical spine condition is more likely due to normal aging rather than any incident during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition and neck disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, glaucoma, and partial fusion of the cervical spine are remanded as they require further examination to determine their etiology.,Service connection is denied for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, peripheral vascular disease of the lower left extremity, and peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and his neck and left shoulder disabilities, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The case is remanded for obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 15, 2012, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence having been received, the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU is remanded.,Entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a right leg disability is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for bronchitis is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hemorrhoids is granted. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for neck and low back disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or chronic disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The appeals are not about presumptive exposure or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and cervical spine fracture of the C1 and C2 vertebrae as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. The head injury residuals issue is remanded.,Further investigation and evidence are needed regarding the Veteran's head injury residuals, including whether they are related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his DDD of the cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete information regarding the frequency, duration, and severity of flare-ups. The VA will obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right foot plantar fasciitis is dismissed. The Veteran's head scar and related migraine headaches are granted service connection, but the neck disability and right knee disability remain remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.