Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for a right ankle disability is granted. The appeals for increased ratings for the right and left shoulders, as well as the cervical spine disability, are remanded.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as service-connected. For the period prior to January 24, 2020, his cervical spine torticollis is rated at 10 percent and for the period from January 24, 2020, it is rated at 20 percent.,Right and left upper extremity radiculopathy are referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for urinary incontinence as a neurological complication of lumbar degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease is granted on and after January 13, 2016. The claims for TDIU, excess ratings for various knee conditions, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and kidney stones are all remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the current condition was not incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran's pre-existing cervical spine fusion was noted during his enlistment in the National Guard but no aggravation of this condition was found during periods of active duty.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, nerve damage of the left lower extremity, right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with residuals of a neck injury, and headache disability are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the IVDS Rating Formula due to lack of evidence of ankylosis, muscle spasm, guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or spinal contour, or additional loss of range of motion. The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy is separately rated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder (NOS), left knee tendonitis, and cervical spine intervertebral disc disease (to include cervical strain) have all been denied. The effective dates for these awards have also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted, and a 100% disability rating is assigned effective from May 3, 2018. Claims for other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent since July 12, 2010. Additionally, from July 12, 2010, a TDIU has also been granted due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for GERD is dismissed. The case has been returned to the Board due to a withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted an extraschedular TDIU from November 9, 2012 to December 13, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and allergies, but denied reopening of the claims for degenerative joint disease of the knees and depression. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of back condition, cervical spine condition, and allergies.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis have been reopened. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for both conditions, as well as to obtain updated treatment records and determine if a TDIU should be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a medical opinion regarding the onset of the Veteran's neck disability during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart, cervical spine, and low back conditions due to lack of verification of Thailand service and incomplete development. The cases are sent back for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.,Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of current diagnoses within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's request for restoration of the 60 percent rating for service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with herniation at L5-S1, effective July 26, 2016, is granted. The claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and left upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left shoulder condition, right shoulder arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently being reviewed.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more during the appeal period. Therefore, a higher rating for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity have been remanded as there are no VA examinations addressing these conditions since July 2020.,The Veteran's cervical myositis with cervical spine degenerative disc disease has also been remanded for a new examination to determine the severity of his disability, including range of motion testing.