Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed cervical spine, heart, or headache disability. The Veteran's asthma was not evaluated for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current upper back and neck disabilities are not related to her military service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracic spine and cervical spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and the request to reopen a claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (previously described as anxiety with multiple somatoform disorders, now claimed as PTSD).

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be more likely than not incurred during service or as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for a cervical spine condition secondary to head injury remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board found no connection between any current or prior right arm disability and the Veteran's service, including her service-connected de Quervain's tenosynovitis of the right wrist. The Veteran's right arm disability was attributed to cervical radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability of DJD of the cervical spine, finding that it is related to an in-service neck muscle sprain and straightening of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's low back injury with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease is also rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and for further development of the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cervical spine osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The claims for neck and knee disabilities, as well as the request for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids, are pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss and hiatal hernia disability are dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw these issues.,The Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine arthritis and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathies and cervical spine condition are also granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for additional development as his claim involves a direct service connection issue and not a presumption, exposure basis, or reopening of a previously denied claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the weight of the competent evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected conditions, including headaches with facial numbness, cervical spine DDD, thoracolumbar spine DDD, hemorrhoids, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia. The appeals were based on direct service connection.