Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for shin splints and denied service connection for neuropathy of the left leg and cervical spine disability, finding that these conditions are not related to active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for further examination and development due to the need to determine its etiology.

For the period from November 22, 2006 to September 29, 2009, the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's current low back disorder is not etiologically related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder are not related to service. The disabilities were not shown to have had their onset during service or within one year of separation from service. Moreover, there is no evidence linking these conditions to any injury or event of service origin.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability were denied. However, he was granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for tracheal deviation, bilateral laryngoceles, voice changes, and difficulty breathing and swallowing due to VA surgery in May 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, records review, and medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the claim but is remanding it for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and reschedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of thoracolumbar fusion at T9 and L1 are currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 22, 2012. The Veteran's cervical intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the appeal to the AOJ for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, as well as right hand and arm disability. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of a relationship between his in-service injuries and current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and left shoulder degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's cardiac arrhythmia with chest pain is not considered related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his headaches, as well as whether they are related to his service-connected cervical strain with muscle spasm.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected lumbar spinal stenosis, and whether it was caused or aggravated by that condition.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right shoulder disability, including radiculopathy. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a spine disability, claimed both as directly related to service and as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability that is causally related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

Service connection was granted for a bilateral knee disorder, but service connection remains denied for cervical spine disorder and hearing loss.,A higher rating is sought for the low back disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of his claim. A separate rating for headaches associated with this condition has also been granted.