Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not considered to have been incurred or aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for upper back or cervical spine disability and hypertension. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,VA examinations should be scheduled to assess whether the Veteran currently has an upper back or cervical spine disability, and if so, whether it is more likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for neck disorder, right arm condition with tingling, and left arm condition with tingling are granted as they are found to be related to his in-service parachute training injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal is now pending again with the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and neck disability are not related to service, either directly or through a secondary basis. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of chiropractic expenses incurred at Central Valley Chiropractic from 2005 to 2008 was denied because prior authorization for the medical care provided by a private chiropractor was not obtained in accordance with VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and lack of recent medical records.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral lower extremity numbness, both presumed due to herbicide exposure during his active duty. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea and a skin disorder.,Service connection was granted for sleep apnea based on presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection was granted for bilateral lower extremity numbness and a skin disorder, both presumed due to herbicide exposure during his active duty. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder remains unresolved.

The Board found no evidence of a current neck disability or arthritis of the cervical spine that is related to service, including basic training. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, nasal fracture residuals are rated at 10 percent, right knee disability and left knee disability each receive a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy receives a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent since May 12, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spine disorder are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found new and material evidence for Scheuermann's disease and denied other claims. The Veteran is still seeking service connection for his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board after additional evidence and examination results are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been denied as he is not shown to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and plantar fasciitis due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current conditions and military service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease is secondary to his already service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis has been rated at 20 percent since December 16, 2011. The claim for higher initial ratings is denied as the disability does not warrant a rating above 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disorder and cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not etiologically related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating for TMJ and bruxism, or any other service-connected conditions are not met. The lumbar spine disability has been rated appropriately.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain VA medical records and schedule a VA examination.