Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a November 1999 VA examination report and recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and cervical spine disability will be reconsidered after all relevant evidence is obtained.

The Veteran does not have a current cervical spine disorder and has never had one since filing his claim. The Board finds no evidence of such a condition.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disability in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service. The claims for PTSD and depression were also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records. The claim will be further evaluated after obtaining additional evidence.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided in connection with these claims were inadequate and requires further development, including obtaining STRs from the Veteran's period of service in the Army Reserve, scheduling new VA examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder disabilities, and hearing loss, and reviewing the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his inservice injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to missing service treatment records and incomplete VA treatment records. The case will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted initial compensable ratings, with the exception of his cervical spine disability which has not met the criteria for a higher rating since December 29, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and service connection for a cervical spine disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, including service treatment records from his active duty period from January 2010 to January 2012.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy, are being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the causation and aggravation aspects of service connection. The case will be re-adjudicated after obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination. The primary issue on appeal is whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected lumbar spine and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for herniated disc, cervical spine and osteoarthritis, right hip based on new evidence provided by the Veteran. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues, and a new hearing will be arranged for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied. The current evaluation is 20 percent, effective January 6, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck disability is not etiologically related to his active duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The cervical spine issue was remanded but an adequate opinion could not be provided by the examiner.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 30% from March 1, 2009 to May 28, 2013 and is restored. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service and affording him all reasonable doubt.

The Board found that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, cardiac disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death and its relationship to service-connected conditions. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's untimely death, which was attributed to a severe asthma attack exacerbated by his service-connected PTSD.