Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, portal vein thrombosis, irritable bowel syndrome (claimed as chronic diarrhea), asthma, cervical spine disability, and allergic rhinitis have all been denied. The issue of service connection for portal vein thrombosis is dismissed as moot due to a prior grant of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions, finding that the current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for a neck disability due to inadequate examination findings and need for further development, including additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both hands, and therefore he is not eligible for financial assistance for an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions arose during or as a result of his active military service.,No secondary service connection was granted as the Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical strain and left ankle sprain have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical strain and left ankle sprain were both denied, with no further details provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to improper handling of his appeal in the legacy system.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records are incomplete and has ordered VA to obtain his treatment records from 1952 onwards. The claims for service connection remain pending as a result of this remand.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for nasal bones with deviation to the right was denied. The Board found that the current condition did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.,The claim of service connection for hypertensive heart disease with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy was previously denied in May 2013, but new evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board did not reopen this claim as it found no material evidence.,The claim of service connection for hypertension was previously denied in February 2013 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.,The claim of service connection for a neck disability was previously denied in May 2012 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, bilateral hip, thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20 percent rating from August 26, 2014. The Board also found the Veteran is entitled to TDIU since March 3, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities limiting his ability to work.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities.,Service connection for migraine headaches is granted based on a history of head pain after tooth extraction during active service.

The Veteran's right knee instability associated with patellofemoral syndrome is granted a disability rating of 20 percent, effective August 8, 2016.,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development is required. The issues include bilateral leg pain, diabetes mellitus, neck disability, and loss of teeth.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's cervical spine disability, upper extremity radiculopathy, and sleep apnea. The claims for increased ratings are inextricably intertwined with these other issues and must be addressed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, asthma, bilateral pes planus, and others, have prevented her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 26, 2014.

The Board has determined that new evidence has been added to the record since the last decision and requires further review. The claims for initial ratings are being remanded for consideration of this additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, and bilateral foot disabilities as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.,There was no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service discharge.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar and cervical spine degenerative joint diseases, a peripheral vestibular condition (lightheadedness and disequilibrium), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his cervical spine condition and left arm condition, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.