Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and neck disability, finding no evidence of such conditions being incurred in or related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for extraschedular ratings for his cervical spine disability and residuals of a stress fracture of the left tibia, finding that the disabilities are adequately addressed by the applicable diagnostic codes and do not show exceptional or unusual factors impacting employment.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability and assigned a separate initial 20 percent rating, but no higher, for left knee instability. The Veteran's increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted with a 20 percent rating from February 24, 2017 to July 9, 2020. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, residuals of a discectomy scar, and neurological disability of the left upper extremity (claimed as left cubital tunnel syndrome).,There is no evidence to support that any of these conditions are related to active duty service.,The Veteran's cervical spine condition was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the neck and shoulder, PTSD, and arthritis of the wrist, is remanded due to need for additional examinations. Additionally, his claim for service connection for arthritis of the joints, potentially related to exposure in Southwest Asia, is also remanded.

The VA has awarded a 30 percent rating for cervical spine disability effective May 25, 2016. The appellant's claim was received within one year of the Intent to File.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic headaches, right shoulder bursitis, thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis, left shoulder bursitis (prior to March 18, 2015), knee arthritis, hand degenerative joint disease, ankle strains, and cervical osteoarthritis, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 22, 2017. The Board granted the Veteran's TDIU claim based on this evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability but has remanded the claim for a neck disability, as it is unclear whether the current neck condition pre-existed service or was aggravated by the service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hernias have been dismissed. The previously denied claims of service connection for DJD of the thoracic/lumbar spine, bilateral knees, prostatitis, and GERD have been reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for DJD of the thoracic/lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, left upper and lower extremity neuropathy, and right upper and lower extremity neuropathy. The decisions are based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee chondromalacia, neck cervical stenosis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, anxiety and insomnia). The Veteran's headaches and swallowing disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU, but his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, neck disorder, and lower back disorder. The Veteran's claims were received on June 18, 2015, and January 28, 2016, respectively.,The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), erectile dysfunction, and cognitive impairment secondary to posttraumatic headaches and PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is related to service and granted.,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, as well as a cervical spine disorder, were previously denied. The current petition to reopen these claims has not presented new and material evidence.,Service connection for chronic kidney disease was also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and right-hand disorder due to inadequate etiological opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including further examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disability, dry eye disability, right ear infection, and neck disability were not found to be related to service or any in-service injury or disease.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss, pinguecula (eyes burning), sleep apnea, hypertension, left shoulder disability, allergies, shin splints, knee pain, and neck disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The PACT Act is not applicable to these claims.