Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and right knee disorders were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher disability evaluation.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability has not manifested in loss of range of motion to the extent that forward flexion was less than 15 degrees or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. Therefore, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board denied both claims for service connection, finding that the Veteran's cervical spine and respiratory disorders pre-existed his ADSW service and were not aggravated by it.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability from September 23, 2002 forward.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, but granted service connection for Addison's disease.,Addison's disease was granted based on new and material evidence.

The VA has determined that the appellant's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation prior to March 4, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and cervical/lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examinations concluded that these conditions are less likely related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and his cervical radiculopathy with paresthesias and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity is rated at 20 percent. The Board has granted these ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder and bilateral knee disorder are due to his own willful misconduct during service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral upper extremity disorder, to include radiculopathy or carpal tunnel syndrome, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and found that the Veteran's low back disability did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The claim for TDIU was not addressed as it had already been decided against.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative changes have been rated as 10 percent disabling since January 4, 2006. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 12, 2008 and from June 12, 2008 to April 11, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during his military service or within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and knee disorders are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during or within one year after service. The current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case as there are no longer any issues to be decided.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cervical strain was denied, but she received a separate 20% rating for right-sided radiculopathy and a combined 40% rating for both conditions. The TDIU claim was granted with the additional ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and torticollis are not related to his military service, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2008. From October 2, 2008 to September 11, 2013, the evidence showed that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.