Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, wrist, hand, and right foot disabilities are not service-connected. The back disability was granted a 20% rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for ED, hemorrhoids, or hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff partial tear, cervical strain (neck disability), and headaches are all found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and shoulder disorders are pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the condition is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic cervical spine disorder did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Lyme disease and its residuals, as well as secondary disabilities to these conditions, have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions are related to active military service or are due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic cervical and thoracic spine strains have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's left knee, left foot, cervical spine, and ED disorders were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.,Service connection was denied for these conditions as they are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back strain is related to her active duty service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, remains pending as the claimant's diagnosis does not meet the criteria for PTSD under DSM-IV but instead diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Service connection for a cervical spine disability is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability, neck disability, hand/finger disabilities, knee disabilities, foot disabilities, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective August 1, 2003. The appeal for higher ratings and extension of the temporary total rating was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is less likely than not related to his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical and thoracolumbar spine, left ankle arthritis with pain on motion, hypertension, and posttraumatic headaches were denied. The effective dates for the 20 percent ratings assigned to these conditions have been confirmed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such severity to preclude substantially gainful employment prior to August 6, 2010.

The Veteran's disabilities are permanent and total in nature, meeting the criteria for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for cervical dysphasia was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for depression and/or dysthymic disorder as secondary to her service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination for his cervical spine disability and because of inextricably intertwined issues regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is related to his service-connected post-concussive disorder with headaches.

The Veteran's cervicobrachialgia with right arm parasthesias is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate. The Veteran's cervical spine disability has not been service connected.