Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of whether her low back pain, cervical spine condition, and right sciatic nerve damage are related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and sleep disorder due to insufficient medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to provide a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's TBI claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and no causal relationship to service has been established.,Left shoulder degenerative joint disease was also denied as there is no in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's current condition does not appear related to service.,Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied due to lack of an in-service injury or disease, and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service.,Radiculopathy associated with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is also denied as there is no direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cardiomyopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, colonic diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, rectum condition, and stomach condition are all denied as they are not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's service connection claims for sinus condition secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, gastrointestinal disability, and evaluation of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to incomplete examinations and conflicting diagnoses. The Veteran will need further evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the omission of potentially relevant private medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, left knee strain residuals, and right knee strain residuals. The evidence does not establish a chronic condition that manifested to a compensable degree in service or within a presumptive period, nor is continuity of symptomatology established.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,The Veteran has withdrawn all issues except for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, neck disability, sleep disability, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether pre-existing scoliosis was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar disc disease and cervical disc disease with right shoulder disability, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and physical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding aggravation by pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's neck condition and sinusitis are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are currently rated at 20% and 40%, respectively. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect his symptoms as described in the rating criteria.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability was denied.,Prior to April 2, 2019, the Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent. After that date, it was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, lumbar spine, and neck disabilities due to incomplete medical history and lack of objective evidence.,Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of increased rating for low back disability and TDIU based on the same issue.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is not rated higher than 30 percent.,Prior to March 16, 2018, the Veteran’s degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder was rated at 10 percent; since then, it has been rated at 20 percent. The left shoulder condition remains at 10 percent prior to March 16, 2018 and at 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was initially rated as noncompensable but is now rated at 20 percent; his cervical spine condition has been rated at 10 percent since March 16, 2018.,Left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right hip strain with osteoarthritis have both been rated at 10 percent. The left hip strain conditions are each rated at 10 percent prior to March 16, 2018 and at 20 percent thereafter for limited flexion.,The Veteran's right hip strain with osteoarthritis has a separate noncompensable evaluation for limitation of flexion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, low back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a nexus to service.,The Veteran contends his current conditions are related to his duties as a drill instructor during active duty, but there is no indication that he sustained any injuries in the line of duty.

Service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease and disc extrusions, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, and left varicocele is denied.,Effective dates for these grants are not being granted prior to March 25, 2013.