Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is causally related to service, and his bilateral ankle disorder is not established as a current disability. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a back or neck disability that is related to his military service and thus denied both claims.

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

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including a cervical spine disorder, colon cancer and its residuals, impotence, abdominal scars, and thyroid cancer. The case is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome with radiculopathy and left arm numbness, and left shoulder disability are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as she withdrew her claim for increased rating of left wrist scar. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess her current headaches and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying service dates, and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after all available evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain is rated at 30 percent, and he has a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board finds service connection for a cervical spine disability secondary to his service-connected mechanical low back pain.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is not etiologically related to active service, and his claimed sinus polyps and deviated septum, bilateral arthritis of the knees, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. These conditions are related to the Veteran's Reserve service duties.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after his second period of active duty. The Board finds that the current cervical spine disability did not begin in service and is not otherwise related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of signed consent forms for ECT treatments provided from November 29, 2006 to December 11, 2006. The Veteran is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for any additional disabilities caused by these treatments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities since May 1, 2008. An effective date of May 1, 2008 for the award of a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records, updated treatment records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to have developed due to in-service injury or disease, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The right wrist disability does not warrant a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence, including treatment records from after the last VA examination.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a cervical spine disorder and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder. As such, the claim remains denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disease of the cervical spine, including whether it is related to his service-connected lumbar strain. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.