Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection is granted for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides and/or disabilities. Service connection is also granted for GERD, migraine headaches, TBI, neck disability, and low back disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, as the combined range of motion was not less than 170 degrees.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica is rated at 10 percent, as it did not result in more than mild incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, as diastolic pressure was not predominantly 100 or more and systolic pressure was not predominantly 160 or more.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The cervical spinal fusion disability is rated at 40 percent, neck scars are rated at 30 percent, and loss of taste remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The issues of entitlement to service connection for neck disability, torticollis, back disability, and essential tremors are now before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine DDD and DJD, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's spine and gastrointestinal disabilities, as well as toxic exposure risk activities in Vietnam. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, thoracic back, left jaw numbness, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to additional development of records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea pedis and onychomycosis was denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied as they are not related to his military service.,For the remaining issues (right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, loss of use of the right lower extremity, and loss of use of the left lower extremity), the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined with TDIU issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability and SMC based on aid and attendance was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a doctor, even considering pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in total unemployability, as he has not provided specific information about his employment history and income levels.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and other procedural issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability due to a lack of medical evidence supporting this theory.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability due to issues with the previous VA examination and opinions, including concerns about the examiner's qualifications and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete VA examination reports.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right thigh disability, and left shoulder disability are all remanded for further evaluation. The VA will schedule examinations to assess the severity of these conditions and determine if they are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is dismissed. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and residuals of a right thumb fracture are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and dorsal and low back strain have been denied. The criteria for a higher rating were not met based on the current evidence.