Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the veteran's claims.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's cervical spine disability and its related radiculopathies of the hands and shoulders, effective as of April 18, 2000.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining National Guard medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his right thumb disability and current low back and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is unrelated to any in-service injury. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, left hip, and cervical spine disabilities as there was no evidence of a chronic disorder in service or that any current disability is etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 23, 1997, for service connection of herniated nucleus pulposus of the cervical spine with degenerative changes and spinal stenosis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder to obtain additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the veteran for a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and a thoracic spine disability as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of the condition in service or many years thereafter and that the most persuasive medical opinion evidence on the question of etiology militated against the claim.