Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for a cervical spine disability. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, back disorder, or headache disorder. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding any such disorders are related to military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine surgeries were deemed to be the result of a normal course of treatment and not due to any fault on the part of VA.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and arranging for the Veteran to undergo appropriate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected facet syndrome with sclerosis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of records and further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracic and cervical spine disabilities require additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current cervical spine disorder that is related to her military service or any other condition. Therefore, she cannot be granted service connection for this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The claims of service connection for Addison's disease and reopening the claim for spondylosis, cervical spine are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and will provide further development before deciding the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus, depression and anxiety disorder, cervical spine strain, and thoracic spine strain are all found to be related to service.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the left knee is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the hands, feet, legs (knees), shoulders, ankles, and cervical and lumbar spine segments.

The Veteran's initial rating for his cervical spine disorder is denied as the evidence does not show forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less, nor any type of ankylosis. The Veteran was also not shown to have incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disk syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to determine whether his National Guard service was federal or state in nature. The hearing loss disability claim is also being remanded as a new opinion is required from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a bilateral knee disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left hip disability and GERD has been granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a skin disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted with an initial rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran seeks service connection for low back and neck disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development of the record is needed before proceeding with adjudication.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for the service-connected cervical spine disability, effective August 12, 2006.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and intervertebral disc syndrome of the right upper extremity with right carpal tunnel syndrome cannot be earlier than January 17, 2007.

The Veteran's neck disability is not service connected as he did not suffer a gunshot wound during military service. The low back strain claim is pending due to the need for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders are not related to service, including as due to a motor vehicle accident. The knee disabilities were not sustained in service.