Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected low back disability, are not related to his military service. Additionally, the Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he contends is related to an in-service injury. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a medical opinion addressing all of the Veteran's contentions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all pending appeals before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant and his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and headaches due to incomplete development of the record, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Murfreesboro, Tennessee VA Medical Center and any other relevant medical providers. The Veteran is also requested to provide information about all other medical providers who have treated him for his claimed disabilities since 1998.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active military service or periods of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are found to be at least as likely as not caused by his in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the reduction of an evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent for a cervical spine disability, effective August 1, 2007, was proper. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings prior to and after this date is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete information regarding his service dates and missing medical records from October 12, 2001. The Veteran is seeking service connection for injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's left elbow, left hand, and cervical spine disorders did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to service. The VA examinations and medical records do not support a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and neurologic disabilities, including hip disability, low back disability, peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy of the lower extremities, neck disability, bilateral knee disability, cervical radiculopathy, right thumb sprain residuals, left ankle sprain residuals, and dermatitis have been denied. The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is not considered to be a proximate cause of these disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical transverse myelitis is related to a flu vaccination he received while on inactive duty training, and grants service connection for residuals of cervical transverse myelitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's post-operative residuals of a cervical spine injury were not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's cervical disc disease was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine. However, the increased rating claim for the lumbar spine condition remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability did not have onset during or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the left cervical lymph nodes, status post chemoradiation. The Veteran's claim was previously denied in April 2004 due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to military service or Agent Orange exposure.