Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, left hip disability, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals were dismissed or denied based on lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's appeals to service connect suppurating ulcers on the right and left legs, diabetes mellitus, and a temporary total rating for a condition necessitating convalescence have been withdrawn.,New evidence has reopened claims of service connection for a left knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder. The Board will now review these reopened claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for cervical spine arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions regarding functional loss or limitation of motion as a result of pain.,The Veteran's cervical spine arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent based on forward flexion limited to 45 degrees. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology is also not established.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has had radiculopathy of the lower left leg at any time during, or approximate to, the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated as 10 percent due to forward flexion limited to 30 degrees and combined range of motion not greater than 170 degrees. The examiner noted that repetitive use testing did not show any additional loss of function.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cervical spine disability was denied, as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less at any point during the appeal period.,The Veteran's COPD was rated noncompensably disabling prior to May 3, 2017, and 10 percent thereafter. The Board found no basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine DJD is granted service connection based on a presumption of service connection due to the PACT Act. The right knee disorder, tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, is denied as not related to service. Service connection for hypothyroidism is also granted but with an initial 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spondylosis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, but denied the claims for throat condition, TBI, neck disability, tinnitus, and headaches.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine condition was denied, and the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for degenerative disc and joint disease for the thoracolumbar spine is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and right shoulder disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disability (neurocognitive disorder) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the upper extremities, cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral cataracts, and a skin condition other than sebaceous cysts are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective from October 24, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating for this condition.

Tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Traumatic brain injury is denied as not service-connected.,Right knee disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent is remanded for further examination and opinion.,Left knee disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent is remanded for further examination and opinion.,Right shoulder condition is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Left elbow condition is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Cervical spine condition is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for chronic joint pain, a disability of the spine (including lumbar and cervical spine), left knee disability, right knee disability, and residuals of pneumonia. The decision is based on the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than February 29, 1996 for the grant of service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, neck disability, hearing loss, internal bleeding, acid reflux, and ingrown toenails. The Veteran needs to clarify his period of service with the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of Social Security Administration records and for a new examination regarding his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to October 19, 2015 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his unemployability status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions, as well as headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for further development. The claim for diabetes mellitus is also being remanded due to a potential change in law.