Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's disability picture, as it relates to his service-connected residuals of a hangman's fracture of the second cervical vertebra with degenerative changes, cannot be characterized as an exceptional case with marked interference with employment so as to render the schedular evaluation inadequate.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's inguinal hernia, bilateral, postoperative with scar and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective from October 20, 2006. The decision also addressed other issues of service connection but did not reach a final determination on them.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his military service, granting him service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, STRs, and examinations. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, low back disability, and cervical spine disability are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a cervical spine examination, and providing the Veteran with a Statement of the Case on her depressive disorder claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees and cervical spine. The RO denied these claims in May 2001, finding no indication of arthritis within one year following service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the Nashville RO. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination of the cervical spine and review of the claim for residuals of fractures of the mandible. The Veteran's claims are not ready for appellate review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a nervous disorder, and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and low back disabilities are not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee and/or cervical spine disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease, major depressive disorder associated with cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and chip fracture left wrist prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The criteria for a TDIU are met on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are not related to his military service, including as a result of any in-service complaints or treatment for pain in these areas.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back and cervical spine disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of the disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right foot calcaneal spur, and his upper extremity radiculopathy is not related to service-connected cervical strain. Therefore, he is denied these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and nerve damage to the bilateral upper extremities are being remanded due to incomplete verification of his military service, need for additional medical examination, and need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine their etiology. The claim for an increased rating for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee is also being remanded.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the left leg were found to have been incurred in service and are therefore granted service connection. The Board also finds that the Veteran has other service-connected disabilities for which increased evaluations are warranted.