Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, CAD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's inability to attend VA examinations due to cancer treatment.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: one regarding service connection for a cervical spine condition related to the Veteran's lumbar spine condition, and another regarding the rating of his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. Both issues require further examination and opinion from VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn.,The reduction of the disability rating for thoracolumbar myofascial strain with IVDS from 40 percent to 20 percent was improper, and the rating is restored. The issues regarding TDIU, headaches, cervical myofascial strain, thoracolumbar myofascial strain, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities, bilateral shoulders, and bilateral hands are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including left rotator cuff tendinosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbar strain disability, cervical spine strain, and right foot hammer toes. The Board has identified discrepancies in the effective dates for GERD ratings and requests additional information from VA examiners who provided opinions and examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability and PTSD due to a lack of VA examination. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a cervical spine disability resulting in paralysis. Additional evidence from private medical sources must be obtained before further action can be taken.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical strain was granted at 20 percent in September 2011. The Board denied an increased rating, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, finding that the current conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to inadequate opinions regarding herbicide agent exposure and asbestos exposure. The claims will be reviewed again with new addendum opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar, cervical, and lower extremity disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to November 20, 2014 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there is no evidence of unemployability due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical disc disease/ spondylosis is found to be the cause of his current peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, warranting a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for GERD has been granted. The Board has also remanded issues related to bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, a neck disability, and right shoulder disability. Additionally, the issue of an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private dermatology records and a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his cervical spine ankylosing spondylitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability and cervical spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The AOJ is instructed to obtain legible copies of the Veteran's STRs, schedule a VA examination, and provide an opinion on the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection for various disabilities, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative disk disease. The Veteran's claim for service connection for REM-associated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety or depressive disorder), cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to a lack of current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for a new VA examination due to the increase in severity since his last examination.,The cervical spine disability and RUE condition are also being remanded, with requests for an addendum opinion on secondary service connection.