Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, with sedentary forms of employment being possible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. A VA examination is also needed to determine if his current psychiatric disorder, right shoulder condition, cervical spine condition, or residuals of a head injury with concussion are related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia patella, left knee degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia patella, and cervical spine degenerative disk disease are as likely as not related to his active military service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate previous examinations and for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's neck disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability and a neck disability are decided. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain an injury of his head or neck during active service, and arthritis of the cervical spine was not manifest within one year of separation from active duty. Therefore, service connection for residuals of a head injury and neck disorder is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and a separate rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy has been granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his military service, while bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are not shown to be service-connected. The right inguinal hernia was found to have no recurrence and a scar length of 7 cm.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's current right thigh, back, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that these conditions are not related to the human pyramid incident during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as his nonservice-connected cervical spinal cord injury is the primary cause of his need for assistance.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,There is no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology for these conditions since service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability with bilateral radiculopathy of the upper extremities and traumatic brain injury, both claimed as secondary to a motor vehicle accident in service. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently evaluated at a 10 percent rating. The Board found that an evaluation in excess of 10 percent was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical nexus opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not due to a service-connected disability. The criteria for entitlement to TDIU have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and denied each claim.