Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately, with no need for higher ratings.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is presumed to have been incurred during service due to its manifestation within one year of separation. His seizure disorder, characterized as primary generalized tonic clonic seizures, is also presumed to have been incurred during service in the Gulf War theater.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists and sleep apnea are being remanded due to procedural issues, including a lack of copies of relevant documents in his file.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability has been characterized by complaints of limitation of motion and pain, but he has had forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees, and there is no favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. There is also no evidence of incapacitating episodes or separately ratable associated objective neurological abnormalities or disc impairment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and residuals of a cervical spine injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including recent treatment records. The Veteran is also scheduled for a VA examination regarding his right hand disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for right shoulder disability and neck disability. The Veteran's current hearing loss is presumed to have developed due to noise exposure during service, while the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or aggravation for his right shoulder and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation for his cervical spine injury with spondylosis, as well as lumbar strain, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the upper back disability is related to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine or other service-connected condition.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for DDD and spondylosis of the cervical spine, as well as denial of service connection for a bilateral eye disability. The claim for hepatitis C is pending due to remand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as his conditions are not found to be related to his service-connected gunshot wound residuals.

The Veteran's cervical paraspinous and trapezious muscle myofascial pain is granted compensation under 1151, but his left shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and left testicle and leg disability (ilioinguinal nerve neuritis) are not related to the horseshoeing accident.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, right and left knee disorders, cervical spine disorder, post-phlebitic syndrome (right and left lower extremities), skin disorder, and sleep apnea, all presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure. The decision did not assign a rating or provide an effective date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO increased the rating for the service-connected osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine to 40 percent effective on September 8, 2008 and for residuals of a fracture of the left fibula to 30 percent effective on July 20, 2010. The Veteran's claims remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative spondylosis is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain additional medical records and clarify whether the Veteran is seeking service connection on a secondary basis due to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder and cervical spine disorders, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's diagnosed aqueous tear deficiency with dry eyes was identified in service and has been continuously present since then.,The Veteran does not have a current disability related to her uterine cervical dysplasia that is etiologically related to service.