Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of anatomical loss or use of both hands, blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or deep partial thickness burns, full thickness or subdermal burns, or residuals of an inhalation injury.

The Board is remanding the case to allow for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims are being reopened due to new evidence provided.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, neck disability, and right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or within the first post-service year, and concluded that any current neck, low back, or right shoulder conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for chiari malformation, increases in ratings for psychiatric disability and radiculopathy conditions, as well as increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder tendonitis, and cervicogenic headaches. The case is being remanded to allow the Veteran to schedule a hearing and for issuance of an SOC regarding the rating for cervicogenic headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be processed in accordance with established appellate practices.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial compensable rating for his right thumb disability. The most persuasive medical evidence does not link these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting medical evidence and additional development is required.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including a right hand fracture, gastroenteritis (claimed as gastritis), ovarian cyst, fracture of the shaft of the right humerus, cervical cancer, toe contusions on both feet, and mouth ulcers. The Veteran did not have any current diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed leg disability, and the Board finds that his hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for pleural plaquing and cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. Service connection for lumbar spine disability was not established.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of spinal trauma is granted as his current diagnosis and in-service experiences support a finding that the condition was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since May 5, 2008. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The remaining claims of service connection for neck, shoulder, back, hip, and leg disabilities have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and amnesia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease caused from the residuals of a neck injury has been reopened, but it remains denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was not established as related to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as she withdrew her appeal.,There is no evidence of a perforation of the right eardrum (tympanic membrane) or carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity during or since her military service. Therefore, these claims are denied.,The Veteran does not have residuals of a cervical strain that can be attributed to her military service.,There is no evidence showing that the Veteran's pre-existing lumbar spine disorder was aggravated by her military service.