Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability as of August 17, 2007.,A higher 30 percent rating was granted for his cervical spine disability effective October 25, 2011.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee and cervical spine disorders, finding that the conditions are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 30 percent since March 1999. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition, with pain on use and occasional muscle spasms, moderate to severe limitation of motion without ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to address the etiology of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for current spine disabilities and a right leg neurologic disability, which he claims are related to an injury sustained during INACDUTRA in April 1977. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right leg disabilities. This includes obtaining Army Reserve records to verify his active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA periods, obtaining SSA records, and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of any current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the provision of his complete VA treatment records from May 2009 to present.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.,New evidence received since the August 2007 decision supports reopening claims for lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.,New evidence received since the August 2007 decision supports reopening claims for lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back, neck, wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, 30 percent for his cervical spine disability, 10 percent for his right wrist injury, 10 percent for his right ankle disability, or 10 percent for his right knee tendonitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The upper respiratory disability issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a hearing.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck condition and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss disability.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, but his claim of service connection for a neck condition remains pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for her cervical spine disability prior to September 22, 2011 was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The same is true for an increased rating since that date.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for the requested increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability, specifically cervical spondylosis, is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to work during the period from September 18, 2006 to March 23, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.