Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the appellant for examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and his lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to August 23, 2011. Both disabilities remain rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board finds that the current cervical spine disability is not related to the service-connected lumbar spine disability and thus, denies the claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and remanded the remaining issues. The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychological disorder (other than PTSD) as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain were all granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder and headaches are not related to his military service, including his parachute jumps during active duty for training. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's urticaria has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since February 1975. The most recent VA examination in December 2013 found the Veteran to have no current diagnosis or obvious signs/symptoms of generalized urticaria, and noted that his condition did not impact daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the cases for service connection for psychiatric disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and cervical spine disability are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for knee, PTSD, and TBI were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of VCAA notice and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine condition, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus II.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current cervical spine disability is related to active duty or service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 12, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection, specifically regarding continuity of symptoms since service. The Veteran's VA treatment records post-November 2012 are requested.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracic DDD, as well as a skin disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of cervical and thoracic DDD are supported by medical records, including VA examinations and x-rays from his military service. The Board finds that these conditions are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical/thoracic spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The right shoulder and right ankle disabilities remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back and neck disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for diabetes mellitus, type 2; depression; and REM sleep behavior disorder.

The Veteran's total and permanent disability rating due to service-connected disabilities, including his chronic cardiac disability affecting balance or propulsion, meets the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of specially adapted housing.