Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and left hip disability, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.,A separate award of compensation for bilateral lower extremity radicular pain is referred to the AOJ.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, effective March 18, 2011. The decision also granted separate ratings of 20 percent each for cervical radiculopathy in both upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for clarification of the August 2012 VA examination and additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, bilateral hip, lumbar and cervical spine, and right ankle disabilities are all service-connected as they are causally related to trauma sustained during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to her request for a hearing, and she did not file any new documents or notices of disagreement after the withdrawal. As such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and DJD of the right shoulder, finding that new evidence supports a link between these conditions and service. The Board also found that the disabilities are directly related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent before January 25, 2011. From that date, the rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is about the evaluation of his cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA examinations and consider any additional evidence, including a private physician's evaluation from January 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of extraschedular ratings.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis was granted a 10 percent rating prior to July 7, 2010. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a neck injury and head injury, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for cervical sprain. The Veteran did not sustain a head injury in service or have disability that may be associated with such an injury.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the May 2011 VA examiner to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's Reserve service and providing a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, fatigue, and a cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions regarding potential exposure to nerve gas during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's spine disabilities and any related neurologic conditions. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings will be reconsidered in light of all evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge and arranging for an orthopedic VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder.