Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and the need to verify duty status during a weekend MVA. Service connection for cervical spine disability and asthma will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have headaches, a back disability, or a neck disability that are causally related to his military service or to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including those related to back pain, cervical condition, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bronchitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The only competent opinion against the claim is based on a lack of continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee DJD and instability, as well as left knee DJD, were denied. The claim for a higher rating for cervical spine DJD was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with degenerative changes of the cervical spine and provided credible statements of continuous symptomatology since service. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for fatigue and granted service connection for schizophrenia, but denied all other issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service treatment records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and reopening of his scoliosis claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic and cervical spine disabilities were incurred during a period of INACDUTRA, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips, knees, and wrists, and his left shoulder, as well as his disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine with stenosis are attributable to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's urinary and fecal incontinence is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected spine disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition in service. The current conditions are attributed to normal wear and tear over the years.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The VA examiners found no connection between the current disabilities and any events during service.

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

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40% and his right chondromalacia patella and left chondromalacia patella are each rated at 10%. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether a higher rating for either condition is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current residuals of a right hand injury are at least as likely as not incurred during his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, low back disability, and neck disability are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record. The VA will schedule him for examinations to determine if his conditions began during service or are related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and nonservice-connected pension benefits were denied as her military service did not meet the threshold eligibility requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine condition and headaches are service-connected, with both conditions manifesting shortly after his separation from active duty.