Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and a higher rating for PTSD due to incomplete records. The Veteran seeks service connection for a left hand disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative arthritis, while also seeking a higher rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran has been rendered unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities including PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, and tinnitus. The Board grants the TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the initial ratings assigned for various service-connected disabilities, including Traumatic Brain Injury, Cervical Spine Disability, Left Shoulder Disability, Right Shoulder Disability, Lumbar Spine Disability, and others.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches and an increased rating for cervical spine annular disc tears at C4-C5 and C5-C6 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted for cataracts due to diabetes mellitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's headache disability is related to his active service, but remanded other issues including sinusitis, emphysema, COPD, gallbladder condition, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, acid reflux, stroke residuals, arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine, diabetic retinopathy, tinnitus, hypertension, peripheral vascular/arterial disease (PVD/PAD) of both lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of lumbar and cervical spine disorders, expressing satisfaction with current disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have resulted in his need for aid and attendance in the activities of daily living, which is granted.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is granted as service connected, with no specific rating assigned and effective date not specified.

The Veteran's temporary total evaluation for cervical spine disability following surgery is denied as the evidence does not show severe postoperative residuals requiring convalescence beyond December 31, 2014.

The Veteran's current cervical spine disorders are not etiologically related to service or his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are etiologically related to his active service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reenter the VA vocational rehabilitation and employment program, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not worsen to the extent that she was precluded from performing work duties or that her previously rehabilitated occupation was unsuitable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for low back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and the need for clarification on the dates of events claimed by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability is remanded as there are outstanding private treatment records that have not been obtained.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease (status-post CABG) are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and the need for clarification on the dates of events claimed by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded as there are outstanding VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left shoulder disability, left wrist disability, cervical spine disability, or right finger numbness related to service.,There is also no current evidence of a left and/or right knee disability or colitis related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of whether reductions in evaluations for cervical ulnar radiculopathy were proper, as well as entitlement to increased evaluations. The Veteran underwent a VA examination but it was not reviewed by the RO.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and cervical spine are being remanded due to outstanding private medical records from Dr. D., which have not been obtained.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for a cervical spine disorder is granted, with the Board finding that the current disability is related to active service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for short-term memory loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and PTSD were denied, with effective dates not being earlier than September 23, 2010, and November 1, 2010 respectively.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with scoliosis, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with spinal stenosis, and right leg sciatica have been granted. The claim for left leg disability is being remanded.