Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted.,The Veteran's requests to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a bilateral super rectus fader operation, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are granted.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a left ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a right ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of February 22, 2012, but not earlier, for the award of an increased rating to 10 percent for status post left wrist trauma with arthroscopy with triangular fibrocartilage complex is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the award of an increased rating of 10 percent for the right wrist sprain is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left foot trauma is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left knee ACL repair and medial meniscectomy with residual degenerative arthritis is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for chronic cervical strain is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 100% rating, effective November 19, 2015. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals seeking higher ratings for his lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as she does not have a current disability.,The Veteran’s breast cancer with lumpectomy, including as due to exposure to hazardous materials, and her psychiatric disorder including PTSD (due to military sexual trauma and/or as secondary to breast cancer) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's GERD claim is remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.,The Veteran’s left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition), and right upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left lower extremity and right lower extremity conditions are also remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, diagnosed as cervical joint and disc disease, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder conditions, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical disc disease as secondary to hallux rigidus and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further development, including an addendum VA examination regarding the relationship between the conditions and a VA examination assessing the impact of his combined disabilities on employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, obstructive sleep apnea, memory loss claimed as secondary to TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment beginning September 29, 2008.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability, a compensable evaluation for left shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis, and a compensable evaluation for intermittent facial numbness of the left side of the face.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that they are a neurological effect of his service-connected cervical segmental joint dysfunction.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions, a rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a rating higher than 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and basal cell carcinoma as a result of exposure to herbicides due to insufficient evidence in the record. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and stenosis of the cervical spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to failure to appear at VA examinations. The examinations will be rescheduled using alternate means, including home visits or fee-based providers.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private and VA treatment records from his primary care provider and conducting further examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in service dates and unobtained private treatment records. VA examinations are also needed to determine if the Veteran's current neck, right knee, and left toe disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability. The issue of assigning initial ratings for the now service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability, as well as adjudicating the entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 4, 2016, is REMANDED.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection on multiple joint pain, cervical spondylosis, lumbar stenosis, ALS, and PTSD due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar strain and cervical curvature with degenerative disc disease due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, cervical degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Prior to July 18, 2014, the Veteran's PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling.