Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability including degenerative joint disease remains unresolved and requires additional development, including obtaining private medical records and arranging for a VA special orthopedic examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied gastrointestinal disability claim, and the denial of hepatitis was final.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's cervical spine disability to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has received notification that the appellant wishes to withdraw their appeal, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral shoulders and a cervical spine disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any service-connected disabilities related to his military service, including brain damage, spinal cord injury, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine injuries, and deterioration of body function.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inaudibility of his Travel Board hearing recording, and he has requested another hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the new hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions. The veteran is also advised that he can represent himself in this matter.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability and a longer period of convalescence. The case is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, cervical spine disability, and a zygomaticomaxillary process fracture. The combined rating for these conditions is 70 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for diplopia, and for increased ratings for his cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities. The VA examinations conducted in December 1999 and August 2002 were not provided to the appellant.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disorders and his service, including an accident in 1960. The VA examiner opined that the veteran's conditions were due to advancing age rather than any injury sustained during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin, urinary tract infection, eye, vein, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities. The veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is reopened.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current hip disability and therefore denied service connection for a hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural issues.

The veteran's claims for service connection on a direct or secondary basis are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and development.

The Board denied an increased rating for the residuals of cervical strain from July 1, 1978, through February 18, 1994.