Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VCAA notice and VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The clinical evidence does not demonstrate that the Veteran presently has a diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy or other chronic neurological disorder manifested by numbness in his hands, fingers and shoulders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic reactions and residuals of lymphadenitis, chronic, and lymph node biopsy, right neck, cervical were denied as the evidence does not support a direct relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current low back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities. The examiner should consider evidence from the period of active duty from June 27, 1978 through December 28, 1979 for the purpose of determining whether this evidence demonstrates continuity of symptomatology which began during his earlier service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and any pertinent medical records from May 2010 to the present.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records, as well as further consideration of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's cervical sprain did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, his appendectomy scar was not compensable prior to November 27, 2007 and rated as 10 percent after that date, and his headaches met criteria for an initial 30 percent rating.

The VA medical opinion found that the Veteran's bilateral pneumonia was less likely as not related to any service-connected disability or disabilities, and concluded that his death is also less likely as not related to hypertension or heart disease. The Board therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for multiple spine and headache disabilities, including a herniated disc at L5-S1 level. The case must be remanded to obtain VA examinations and additional medical records, and to clarify the nature of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability in August 2001. The current decision finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Board has determined that there is a need for further development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical opinions regarding his psychiatric conditions and employment status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder disability, left leg condition, and left testicle condition. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions and their relationship to his current disabilities. The Board has ordered additional development of the claims, including obtaining clarification from the June 2009 VA examiner regarding the diagnoses and relationships between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his service-connected anxiety disorder and dysthymic disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent, and his right knee disability warranted a combined rating of 20 percent. Both conditions were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptomatology, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic neck or low back injury in service and rejected the Veteran's allegations. The current disabilities are not related to service, including any in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck, left shoulder, and left arm disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for all issues.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The underlying claims are supported by the evidence currently of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.