Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions to assess his service-connected disabilities. The specific claim for a TDIU will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, neck disability, bilateral hand pain, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral hip disability is granted as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred due to an undiagnosed illness during his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities are found to be likely preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his multiple conditions render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is not rated higher than the current assigned ratings prior to and after specific dates.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for an examination addressing his functional impairment from service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including a left shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss as it was granted in a December 2013 rating decision. The claim for service connection of cervical spine disorder remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder did not have its onset in service and is not etiologically related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, claimed as a neck disorder, requires additional development and an examination to determine if his current condition is related to service. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine, right knee, and left shoulder conditions were denied by the Board.

The Board has found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability had its onset in service and is related to his active duty. The claim for a thoracolumbar spine disability was not addressed as it does not appear to be part of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine disabilities and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective from May 14, 2010. The Veteran's appeal is on the initial evaluations assigned.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a head injury, as his current neck and upper extremity symptoms are not shown to be related to the head injury sustained in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea syndrome, cervical spine disorder, and right arm disorder. The claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened but denied on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for brainstem, cervical spine, and headache disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy were rated at the maximum available under VA regulations, with no additional effective date requested.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, including stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD), is not causally related to his active duty service. Therefore, service connection for this condition was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease began in service and is therefore granted service connection.