Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was found to have a combined range of motion of the cervical spine to 280 degrees, with no muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait. The Veteran's foot condition did not show any abnormalities on imaging studies and had no impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's cervical strain was incurred in service and is granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown during the appeal period, thus denial of service connection. Lung scarring due to pneumonia was also incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of current back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The appellant's claims for service connection for headaches, neck disability, shoulder disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for neurological abnormalities associated with the service-connected low back disability, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's subjective complaints were not substantiated by objective findings such as EMG testing.

The Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is service-connected as it had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a cervical spine disorder were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development of his service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying his periods of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorders are related to his service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as his claim for a noncompensable rating for onychomycosis. The effective date of service connection for sleep apnea was set at June 5, 2009.

The Veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities are currently rated at the maximum available ratings of 20 percent for each condition. The VA has determined that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new video conference hearing due to his inability to attend the previously scheduled one.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical dorsal strain and service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability were denied. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right hip or right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of her acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for myopia, cervical dysplasia, and right knee disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is due to disease or injury incurred in active service, and grants the claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is being remanded due to additional development needed, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current left hearing loss disability, but granted service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities. Service connection was also denied for personality disorder, testicular disability, right inguinal hernia, and cervical spine disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a cervical spine disorder, to include DISH, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.