Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability and respiratory disability (asthma), finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left shoulder, cervical, and lumbosacral strain due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated as noncompensable prior to July 24, 2014. From that date onwards, a rating of 50 percent was granted.,PTSD was initially rated at 70 percent from the effective date of October 23, 2013.,Right shoulder degenerative joint disease received an initial 20 percent rating based on painful motion.,Sleep apnea and tinnitus were both denied for increased ratings as they are already at their maximum schedular ratings.,Loss of cervical lordosis was granted service connection effective October 23, 2013.,TDIU is pending due to the Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities.,The appeal for TBI and recurrent lumbar strain remains unresolved (remanded).,No specific exposure basis or presumption was mentioned in this decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and chronic low back pain, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,A VA examination is required to clarify the diagnosis of the Veteran’s low back condition, and an addendum opinion is needed to address whether his intravertebral disc syndrome is related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for back, neck, left hip, right hip, sleep disorder, and anxiety and depression disabilities as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is related to service and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities have not met the criteria for higher ratings, with some issues remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in service, and his claim for increased rating for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is granted with an effective date of September 17, 2005.

The Veteran's neck disability is being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim, including the issue of an earlier effective date, and his TDIU claim are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and opinions regarding his hypertension, skin condition, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, right upper extremity radicular pain, pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for urethritis was denied. The rating for IVDS from August 15, 2007 to November 26, 2014 was granted at a 40 percent level. Other issues such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), erectile dysfunction, and SMC benefits were remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hip, knee, and cervical spine disabilities.

Service connection for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability is granted.,A rating more than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability is denied, as well as a rating more than 10 percent for right knee disability and tinnitus. A compensable rating for hemorrhoids is denied, and a rating more than 30 percent for herpes is denied.,TDIU is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's service-connected neck disability due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for cervical spine disability is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the issue to be reopened.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records and the VA examination is inadequate. The Veteran's claims for defective hearing, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as alcoholism and drug abuse), neck disability, and bilateral hip disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has also remanded the issues of systemic joint, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, peripheral vestibular, scars, hypertension, and migraine headaches disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The claims to reopen the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle arthritis, back disability, bilateral lower extremity pain and swelling, left foot drop/abnormal gait, cervical spine/neck disability, residuals of a tibia fracture, right ear hearing loss, allergic condition, asthma, dermatitis (swelling of the groin area), and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are granted. Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to service.