Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not resolved and requires further examination to determine if his current disabilities had their clinical onset during active service or are related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition and cervical spine condition. However, due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including recent MRI results, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability are all service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records, securing a vocational rehabilitation folder, and providing VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, psychiatric disorders (including drug and alcohol abuse), and service-connected lumbar spine herniated disc and left lower extremity neuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, and the Board finds that it is unrelated to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine disability. The Veteran was also denied TDIU as his disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, without consideration of his age or non-service connected disabilities, prevent the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's initial rating for his DDD of the cervical spine was granted, but he is also granted service connection for headaches that are secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of DDD of the cervical spine at C5-6 and mechanical low back pain, concluding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional development.

The Board has ordered additional development regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and headaches. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mid-back and cervical spine disorders is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions from the VA examiner. Additional development, including obtaining SSA records, is required.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative disease, tenosynovitis of the right thumb, and a surgical scar as residual to a uterine myomectomy. The Veteran's claims are now resolved in her favor.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service for the claimed conditions. Service connection was not granted for tinnitus, but denied for all other claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to procedural defects and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination. The propriety of reducing his evaluation from 20 percent to 10 percent effective March 1, 2009 is also under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board in Washington, D.C. or another location closer to Georgia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spondylosis, to include as secondary to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (back disability), is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and potential alternate theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left shoulder arthritis are found to be related to his military service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions. The issue of an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability is remanded.