Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's cervical spine discogenic disease is rated at 30 percent, effective August 18, 2003. His claim for PTSD was granted and service connection established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and any outstanding medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint diseases of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are related to an in-service automobile accident. The appeals for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's brainstem disorder and cervical spine disorder are found to be congenital defects that were not aggravated by service.,Service connection for the Veteran's headache disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected cervical spine and dorsal spine disabilities are being remanded to allow for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings for sinusitis and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, as well as his claim for TDIU, have been dismissed due to his withdrawal request.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a chronic left leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic neck disability, chronic residuals of a head injury with jaw bone and upper and lower teeth problems, chronic sinusitis, chronic bilateral eye disability, and an initial compensable evaluation for left non-displaced fracture of the distal radius.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various disabilities, including PTSD, knee conditions, elbow degenerative joint disease, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, wrist condition/carpal tunnel syndrome, and left elbow disability. The decision also grants service connection for a bilateral arm disability (claimed as bilateral shoulder disability).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated medical evaluation considering his recent cervical spine surgery and current physical disabilities, including neurologic and motor impairment in the upper extremities.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are related to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and clarifying the Veteran's desire to continue his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for his degenerative lumbar spine disease and knee conditions, and an initial compensable evaluation for his mood disorder. The claim for a TDIU effective date prior to June 17, 2009 was also addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hand, and neuropathy disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his combined rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his service-connected residuals of right tibial fracture and concluded that it was less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating for his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for cervical spine injury and myelopathy with spastic quadriparesis, which he claims is related to a vehicular accident during active duty. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims.