Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in January 2013 are inadequate for rating purposes and thus, the case must be remanded to obtain new evaluations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claims for knee, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and pes planus disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent rating since March 14, 2008. The claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability was denied. The issue of TDIU is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current back or neck disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the July 24, 1981 motor vehicle accident was not in the line of duty due to the Appellant's willful misconduct. Therefore, service connection for neck disability, back disability, right knee disability, and PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The case was remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases in the decision, specifically regarding the lack of consideration of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examination and failure to address pertinent service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 4, 2013 and 20 percent thereafter. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disorders were not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues listed on the title page prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain and cervical spine disability have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 40 percent respectively since June 26, 2007. The effective date for these ratings is not specified.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, including as secondary to his service-connected gunshot wound disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability is granted, with a current effective date of the initial period of the appeal. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee arthritis, status post cervical spine fracture with left radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's in-service parachute jumps are considered the primary cause of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and the need for VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, as his range of motion did not meet criteria for higher ratings under either the General Rating Formula or the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and an increased rating for cervical disc disease. The Veteran's current conditions are related to her in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, migraine headaches, PTSD, and TDIU.