Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disorder is remanded.

The Board found no evidence of a head/neck injury during service and concluded that any current disabilities are not related to the appellant's active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids with anal fissure and residual anal incontinence, as well as myositis of the cervical spine (claimed as neck and upper back) and shoulders were denied. The Board found that separate ratings are not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, PTSD, cervical muscle spasm, and residuals of a scalp laceration. The claim for service connection for hypertension and fractures is pending but not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are not service-connected. However, his cervical spine disability is granted with a rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that his thoracolumbar spine disorder may be related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability related to service or secondary to any service connected disability, and therefore denies both claims for service connection and temporary total evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities were not caused by VA medical treatment, specifically the administration of Felodipine. The evidence did not support a finding that the medication caused or aggravated his existing conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death. The appellant is also not entitled to Dependence and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and no specific decision on the merits can be made.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including any noise exposure therein. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an examination to determine if the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his active service, including a motor vehicle accident in December 1970.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical mycocytes, claimed as neck injury, due to a lack of evidence showing a relationship between his current disability and an in-service injury. The lumbosacral strain with disk protrusion is not considered incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service as a paratrooper. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of bilateral hip, leg, ankle, and neck disorders that are more likely than not related to his military service as a paratrooper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin disease, vascular diseases, cervical and lumbar spine disorders, and kidney failure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development and due process considerations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the cervical spine claim and concluding that any current lumbar spine disability is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and right Achilles tendonitis, with initial noncompensable ratings being granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The maximum schedular evaluation for the status post salpingoophorectomy was granted, but no additional evaluations were warranted.