Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to evaluate his cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease, as well as any associated neurological disorders. The claims for higher ratings for the spine conditions are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and right arm disabilities are not related to her service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing addendum opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, chronic cervical strain, and chronic lumbar strain render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and cervical spine disorders. The case will be remanded for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is due to an in-service vehicle accident, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of entitlement to temporary total disability rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence remains pending.

The Veteran's right hand disability, including a third metacarpal fracture and carpal tunnel syndrome, has been rated at 30 percent since November 8, 2005. The Board found that the current level of disability does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and cervical spine have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no additional ratings granted.,Service connection has not been established for fatigue and insomnia or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The issues of bilateral eye disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability were not addressed as they are moot due to a grant of service connection in another decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, as the additional evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has decided that the case should be remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a copy of the chiropractor's letter. The intertwined issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is also referred back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were evaluated at 10 percent prior to September 2, 2010, and the Board found that these evaluations did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to obtain relevant medical records. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board found that the February 1994 rating decision denying service connection for hypertension, left lower extremity weakness, low back pain, hearing loss, cervical spine disability, depressive disorder, and headaches was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The cervical spine disability may be related to his military service, but an addendum opinion is needed to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, coccyx disability, or bilateral hand disability that is causally related to his military service or to service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current cervical spine disability to service, and denied his claim.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung and heart disabilities, as well as several other conditions, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after service, nor any competent medical opinion linking them to service.