Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2013

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The RO has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder and denied an increased rating for cervical spine disability. The Veteran's right foot disability issue is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service records and a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were evaluated, with the cervical strain receiving a 20% rating effective June 16, 2009. The lumbar strain was not rated as it did not meet criteria for any specific disability evaluation.

The Board denied the claims for reopening of service connection for right and left knee disorders, cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, radiculopathy of upper extremities, neuropathy of lower extremities, and psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development to determine the etiology and service connection status of his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to pre-existing conditions or incurred during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease is found to be etiologically related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen his claims. The Board also found that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to his in-service complaints of neck pain and spasms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being evaluated to determine its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including knee disabilities, foot disability, hearing loss, and eye disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim of competency is being remanded for further development due to conflicting evidence on his mental capacity. A new VA examination will be conducted to reassess whether he is competent to handle his financial affairs.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of asthma, cervical spine disability, and back disability. The criteria for these conditions have not been met.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is a continuity of symptomatology and no evidence against this conclusion. The grant does not include any bony pathology or arthritis in the cervical spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to reschedule his videoconference hearing. The claims for service connection and rating higher than 20 percent for left shoulder sprain, as well as pes cavus, will be returned to the RO for further action.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's neck pain and arthritis are not related to his service-connected disabilities, including incomplete foot drop. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder. The case will be remanded for further development before it can be decided on its underlying merits.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a compression fracture of the cervical spine was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim. The case is remanded for further development on the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain with fusion and multi-level degenerative changes with a vertebral slip. The Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the November 2011 statement of the case, and further development is required before a final decision can be made.