Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his military service, but a left knee strain was incurred during service and is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that his hearing loss did not meet VA criteria for a disability and thus could not be service-connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability. The Board also finds that his cervical spine and bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches and cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as requesting Social Security Administration disability benefits information. The Veteran is to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the presence of chronic back and neck disabilities, and an appropriate psychiatric examination to determine the correct diagnoses for any acquired psychiatric conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. However, the claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional STRs and medical records, as well as scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric and cervical spine disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and to obtain relevant medical records. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely due to an injury sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and National Guard/Reserve service records. His knee claims are also being remanded as the AMC has not issued a statement of the case (SOC) regarding these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for chronic cervical intervertebral disc disease with right upper extremity radiculopathy and associated right upper extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn her appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings assigned are appropriate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic acne and cervical spine disorder claimed as neck pain require further development due to incomplete medical records and need additional examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service aircraft accident. The right shoulder disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and assigned a 20 percent disability rating. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU remains on appeal due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities. The RO is instructed to arrange for a VA mental disorders examination, obtain any additional evidence, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that it was less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that it was less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for the claim of entitlement to service connection for flat feet during his hearing. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.