Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including gastritis and ulcer. The issues of service connection for back and neck disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and he is assigned a 20% rating for his cervical spine disability effective November 29, 2004. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for the cervical spine disorder from June 20, 2007 to present is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to procedural defects and requires further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, are being remanded for additional development. The Veteran is also requested to provide the names and addresses of any private or VA medical providers who have provided treatment since November 2009.

The Veteran's right arm and hand symptoms, including pain, swelling, numbness, and tingling, have been attributed to his cervical spine spondylosis and retrolisthesis. The Board finds that service connection is warranted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disabilities, including a compression fracture of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease, are related to his in-service injury. The claim is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability (claimed as neck disability). The claims for service connection for quadrilateral numbness and headaches, both claimed as secondary to a cervical spine disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of whiplash injury of the cervical spine and left upper extremity paresthesia, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or a neck disability and peripheral neuropathy that are attributable to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is attributable to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck, lower back, and hypertension disabilities. Specifically, VA examinations are required to address whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the right hand, feet, and knees. The cervical spine condition was not granted as secondary to a low back disability, and the thoracic spine condition was also not granted as secondary to a low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine osteoporosis with DDD and DJD are rated at 20 percent each, effective from the date of his initial claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for circulatory obstruction of the right upper extremity with paresthesia, occasional pain, venous dilation, and limitation of motion. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for this condition as it is found to be causally related to his military service.