Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of erectile dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis (claimed as joint pain), back disability, and neck disability with radiculopathy for further examination and determination.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, plantar fasciitis, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine DDD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 20, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA medical examinations and insufficient consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's cervical disability, OSA, and GERD have been granted service connection.,A 40% disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar disability has been restored effective December 28, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical, thoracolumbar, and bilateral knee conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding his service connection.

The Veteran's AAT deficiency is not service-connected as it is a congenital defect, and the evidence does not show aggravation during service. The sinus condition (sinusitis) is denied as there is no current diagnosis of sinusitis or other sinus conditions at any time during the pendency of the claim. Right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is also denied.,The Veteran's AAT deficiency and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are already service-connected, so he cannot be granted additional service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20 percent since August 17, 2017. The previous staged rating period of 10 percent from August 17, 2017 to March 21, 2018 is eliminated.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, as well as an effective date prior to June 9, 2016, for the award of service connection for erectile dysfunction.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is based on it being secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to unresolved issues related to service connection, including exposure to environmental hazards during the Gulf War. The Veteran's mental health conditions and musculoskeletal disabilities are also under consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability but remanded the issue of service connection for a neck disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, erectile dysfunction, bladder disorder, and surgical scarring of the back.,There was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic symptoms related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and DMII were reopened due to new evidence. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted in full. Service connection for dyslipidemia was denied because it is not a qualifying disability for VA purposes. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including arthritis, heart condition, eye condition, insomnia, hypertension, kidney condition, hearing loss, lower back condition, cervical degenerative disc disease (claimed as neck arthritis and arthritis all systems), and depression due to new evidence being added since the last decision.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spondylosis, radiculopathy of the right leg, neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran's conditions are presumed due to service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder disabilities are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination at the time of the decision on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which is a factor in developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA examiner must consider and discuss each specific service-connected disability and the potential individual and collective impacts of toxic exposure risk activities on his disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of various spinal conditions and radiculopathies as untimely, given that a supplemental claim was filed while another review request was still pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, is related to service. The cervical spine, hip, knee, vertigo, and hypertension disabilities are also remanded for further examination.