Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar strain is service-connected, but his degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is not.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional service treatment records, confirm the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, and schedule the Veteran for an orthopedic VA examination. The Veteran will be provided with a supplemental statement of the case if his claim remains denied.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing explanatory information regarding new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the Montgomery RO regarding all six issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disorders are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes related to his spine disabilities. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and either his service or his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board is remanding the claim of hypertension for further development, while deciding the cervical spine/neck disorder claim. The Veteran's neck disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and may not be presumed to have been.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected low back disability, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective March 19, 2013. The increased evaluation was granted as the evidence showed that prior to this date, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 8, 2006 for the award of TDIU benefits. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety is rated at 30 percent since January 14, 2013. His low back disability is rated at 20 percent since November 25, 2009, and his neck disability is also rated at 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected C6-C7 herniated nucleus pulposus, C3-C4 and C4-C5 bulging discs, and cervical myositis is manifested by increased pain in the cervical area; forward flexion limited to 25 degrees with objective evidence of pain beginning at 5 degrees; extension limited to 20 degrees with objective evidence of pain beginning at 5 degrees; less movement than normal and pain on movement after repetitive use; localized tenderness; and pain to palpation for joints.,The Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's heart disorder is presumed to be secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis. The Board grants reopening of the claim for a heart disorder and remands the issue for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience from September 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is at least partly related to his service-connected right knee disability and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a VA compensation examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a reduction in ratings for cervical spine and upper extremity disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.