Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to the need for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his cervical spine disorder.

The Board denied reopening claims for cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities, as well as service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and numbness of the fingers. The Veteran's appeal was not successful in these matters.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and cervical spine disorder are all found to be service-connected. The headaches have been linked to in-service symptoms, the hypertension is presumed to have manifested within one year of separation from service, and the cervical spine disorder is considered a chronic condition that has persisted since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer residuals, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and other conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and neuropathy/sciatica of the lower extremities were denied. The Board found no evidence that these disabilities had their onset in or were related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, osteoarthritis of the right and left first MTP joints are related to service. The issues regarding secondary service connection for these conditions remain under review.

The Board has ordered a remand to reconsider the service connection claims for low back and cervical spine disabilities due to conflicting evidence regarding their onset in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for hepatitis C. The issue of whether there is a cervical spine disability related to service remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to service, including a June 1969 helicopter incident. The evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TBI was received on November 17, 2009. The effective date of service connection is assigned as of that date.,An increased evaluation to 30 percent for allergic rhinitis is granted beginning August 30, 2010.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of cholelthiasis, and therefore denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an abdominal disorder. The cervical disorder issue remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed right knee, left knee, right elbow, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a neck disability that manifested in service or arthritis that manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year thereafter, nor is it causally or etiologically related to service. The Board also found no evidence linking the current neck disability to his service-connected right knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for his lumbar spine disability. The issues of service connection for cervical spine disability, as well as an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability, will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues on appeal, including obtaining additional evidence and arranging for medical examinations.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated as 20 percent disabling, is not more than the current rating. The most recent VA examination did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for consideration of the claims on the merits due to incomplete development and need for clarification.

The Veteran seeks to reopen his claims for left knee disability, cervical spine disability, rectal cancer, and ulcerative colitis. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted in all cases.,Service connection is granted for left knee disability, cervical spine disability, rectal cancer, and ulcerative colitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lung disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, anemia, eczema (skin condition), and hairy cell leukemia. The decision also addressed his PTSD claim.