Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2009

The Board reopened the claim for service connection for a right hip disorder and remanded all claims to the RO for further development before readjudicating them on the merits.

The case is being remanded for additional development and consideration, including providing VCAA notice and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that the appellant's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders are remanded due to the need for verification of the Appellant's National Guard service dates and character, as well as a medical opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board remands the claims for additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as the nature and etiology of his left shoulder, skin, and mental disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of an increase in severity during service or a causal relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a disc protrusion of the cervical spine, and left knee osteoarthritis as these conditions were not found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, dental disability, lower extremity disability, cervical spine disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), defective vision, suppurative otitis media, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, headaches, and postoperative hernia scar.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is manifested by pain with movement of the arm beyond shoulder level, which is the equivalent of limitation of motion to shoulder level. A 20 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is unrelated to her military service.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for a back and neck disability to allow VA to fulfill its duty to assist by obtaining additional records related to in-service injuries.

The appeal is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing as he requested.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's lumbar spine disability but granted a 40 percent rating from September 26, 2003.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder as there was no evidence of a nexus between his active duty and his current condition.

The Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for ratings in excess of 60 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for allergies and secondary conditions, and new and material evidence to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical strain, residuals of vein harvest on the left lower extremity, right and left knee chondromalacia, and scar of the left inner thigh were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for right knee, left knee, cervical strain, and low back conditions were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, a seizure disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sinus problems were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The appeal was remanded to obtain SSA records relevant to the claims on appeal.