Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disability, including cervical degenerative disc disease and cervical stenosis with myelopathy, is related to his active naval service. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral strain disabilities have been granted service connection, but the RO assigned initial 10 percent evaluations. The Veteran disagrees with these ratings and has requested higher ratings. The Board finds that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the current severity of his cervical and lumbosacral spine conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative changes, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, and hernia have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also entitled to increased ratings for his cervical spine degenerative changes, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and examination. The issues include right shoulder, middle finger, knee, foot, back, breast reduction surgery, cervical dysplasia (claimed as cancerous-type tissue), migraine headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,A separate 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy as of May 10, 2017, is granted. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was proper prior to May 10, 2017. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's surgical scar of the cervical spine is currently rated as noncompensable and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's surgical scar of the lumbar spine was properly assigned a noncompensable rating and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, ocular disability, chronic cervical strain, left ankle disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, glaucoma, and bilateral hearing loss, produced total occupational impairment. The Board granted TDIU for accrued benefit purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including depressive disorder NOS, right-hand disability, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left-hand disability, bilateral hip disability, and left-knee disability. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions have not been properly evaluated due to a lack of recent medical examination, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU is inextricably intertwined with his increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's current neck condition is related to his service or a service-connected low back condition. The Veteran needs an opinion from a medical examiner regarding whether the head injury in 1978 and/or the lumbar injuries caused or aggravated the cervical spine degeneration.

The Veteran's claim for chronic fatigue syndrome and headaches related to Gulf War Syndrome is being remanded due to the need for further examination.,The Veteran's cervical and thoracic spine condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spondylotic myelopathy was denied in a February 2014 rating decision. The Board found that the evidence did not show his CTS was related to his service-connected right shoulder disability or that the disability was incurred during service. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied as there was no prior claim of service connection for his right upper extremity CTS.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizotypal personality disorder was granted. The claims for back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heat exhaustion, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were all denied.,Service connection for the back disability, to include lumbar strain and mild multilevel cervical spondylosis, is not established as it did not have its onset in service or otherwise relate to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service, including a March 1983 accident. The separation examination was silent for any spine disorder, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as VA examinations are required to address the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hammer toes, obstructive sleep apnea, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and tinnitus have been granted. The rating for GERD has also been reduced from 30% to 10%. New evidence was submitted that supports the reopening of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine/neck disability, loss of leg control, acquired psychiatric disorder, and other disabilities secondary to hydrocephalus with shunt. The Veteran's personnel records will be obtained to determine if there were any in-service events that could have aggravated his pre-existing hydrocephalus.

The Board has restored the original disability ratings of 20 percent for both the thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease and strain (back disability) and cervical strain, effective from March 24, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, including as secondary to his service-connected back disability, is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and radiculopathy are also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The Veteran's disabilities of the feet, knees, and neck are being reviewed again with new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's spine disorders, including scoliosis and degenerative changes in the cervical spine. The examiner is requested to differentiate between congenital defects and diseases, determine if the conditions clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, and assess whether they are related to service.