Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any other relevant exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease with cervical radiculopathy did not develop within one year of discharge and was not related to service, including a fall on ice during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain supplemental VA medical opinions regarding his left eye disorder, left leg disorder, and back conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, thus denying her claims for increased ratings. The reduction from a 100 percent to a 10 percent rating for service-connected Lyme disease was upheld.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claim, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and shoulder conditions, which prevent him from standing for long periods of time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed cervical spine disorder. For his GERD, the Board finds that the current symptomatology is not severe enough to warrant an increased rating beyond the existing 10% evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, thus denying the reopening of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings or a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining current records and etiological opinions. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder to include cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease is pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his military service, including any physical training therein, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's low back condition is related to his active service, and he has been granted service connection for this disability.,While the Veteran reported right knee pain during service, there is no evidence of DJD within one year post-service. The Board found that the current DJD of the right knee is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability and associated cervicogenic headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities, as well as his right and left leg sciatic neuropathies, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining FMLA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back and cervical spine disabilities; hypertension and plantar fasciitis of the left and right feet.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a neck disability and granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the condition is attributable to military service.