Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2010

The Board found no evidence of a current cervical or low back disability that was incurred in service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's SLE is rated at 60 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The claim for a TDIU was also denied as there were no indications of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim.

The Board denied an effective date prior to October 26, 1998 for the grant of a TDIU because the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not meet the criteria for a TDIU at that time.

The Board found no evidence of chronic cervical or thoracolumbar spine disabilities during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA medical records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and cardiac disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further examination and development due to insufficient evidence of his employability.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected asthma, effective from the date of this decision. The criteria for a higher 100 percent evaluation have not been met.

The evidence does not show any objective neurological manifestations due to the service-connected cervical spine disability, and thus the claim for a separate rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, numbness in the left hand (claimed as radiculopathy), and thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis with left lower extremity radiculopathy. The right shoulder disability was granted but not increased beyond a 10% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and his cervical spondylosis remains at the initial evaluation of 10 percent. The claim for an increased rating for cervical spondylosis has been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU related to his service-connected cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for clarification of medical findings, additional VA treatment records, and consideration of referral for extraschedular ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The evidence did not show an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions, nor was there clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and cervical spine disabilities were denied. The claim for increased rating of lumbar strain was granted with a 20% disability rating effective from April 16, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and need for clarification of medical opinions.