Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left arm impairment due to disc extrusion at C6-7 of the cervical spine is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a TBI, cervical spine or thoracolumbar spine disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to missing VA medical records. The Veteran's service connection claims for low back and upper back disabilities, secondary to his left knee disability, are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and neck disabilities are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, low back disability, and neck disability due to a lack of new and material evidence. The claims were not reopened as there was no indication that current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left thigh dermatitis was withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claim of service connection for right 1st metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Board will consider whether separate ratings may be assigned for different periods of time based on facts found.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder. The cervical spine disorder issue is also pending.

The Board has found that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hip disability and therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for this condition must be denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability prior to February 26, 2010 was denied. However, he received a grant of a 20 percent rating from that date forward.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and traumatic arthropathy, was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, warranting a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for neck, right elbow, right wrist, and right shoulder disabilities. The examiner concluded that these conditions are less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and ensuring that all pertinent evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the extent of his cervical spine disability and whether he has headaches due to this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, GERD, and TBI were denied. Service connection was granted for cervical spine disability with a 10% rating effective July 16, 2009, and lumbar spine disability with a 10% rating prior to November 28, 2011, and a 20% rating thereafter.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and bilateral leg disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The claims for headaches and PTSD were also denied.