Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim of service connection for cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining recent medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, neck disorder, upper back disorder, and lower back disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and her military service.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis was not incurred during active service and is not proximately due to any service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 30 percent effective June 26, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current spine disabilities are not related to service and have denied his claims.

The Board has determined that additional medical evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current cervical disc disease, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and further development of the cervical injuries claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, neck pain (claimed as arthritis of the cervical spine and rheumatoid arthritis), mid-back pain and HLA-B27 (also claimed as arthritis of the thoracic spine and rheumatoid arthritis), and ankylosing spondylitis (also claimed as arthritis of the lumbar spine) due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for nasal deviation, dry eyes, a neck disability, and a low back disability. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's low back disorder was found to be productive of pronounced intervertebral disk syndrome, warranting a rating in excess of 40 percent. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU as her combined disability rating exceeded 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and held TDIU in abeyance pending completion of development.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA and private medical records that may be relevant to the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied, and the RO found that a higher rating is not warranted. The cervical spine disability claim was also denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical nexus evidence and a need for additional information from the Veteran's National Guard unit.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved medical questions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service back pain and his current spine disability. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, which are referred to the RO.