Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder condition, headache condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar strain, and right knee condition due to insufficient evidence of service connection. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but further development is needed before a final determination can be made.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's hypertension requires medication for continuous control and warrants a 10 percent rating. The Board has granted a higher 10 percent rating, but remanded due to worsening symptoms. Service connection claims are also remanded for VA opinions on the etiologies of back disability, neck disability, hearing loss, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the Veteran's and his attorney representative are properly informed of requests for evidence, and to obtain any outstanding records. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for cervical spine and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to October 25, 2016. These matters are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of current disabilities due to active service or any incident of service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disability, hypertension, a disability manifested by constant urination, and a disability manifested by loss of sensation of the fingers. The reasons were that there was no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's neck disability and skin disability of the hands are not service-connected.,Effective November 19, 2010, a 10 percent rating is granted for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome under DC 5261. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome under DC 5260.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for right ulnar neuropathy due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, heart disorder, BPH, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical muscle spasm, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hip degenerative arthritis, right knee DJD, right ankle condition, vision disability (glaucoma and cataracts), and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of right knee, right ankle, bilateral eye, and tinnitus disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues: nose/sinus disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected cervical spine strain with degenerative changes from December 30, 2016 to May 29, 2019. The issue of a separate compensable disability rating for headaches secondary to neck disability is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to VA's Director of Compensation for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) is warranted prior to January 12, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, bilateral eye disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is caused or aggravated by her service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's neck disability is related to service. The examiner will assess if the condition began during active service, manifested within one year after discharge, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted. The cervical spine disability, PTSD, TBI with headaches, head scar, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are all remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity and functional impact on his employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and right shoulder disability due to the need for additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.