Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death, and whether his suicide was related to his severe chronic pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders did not begin during active service or within one year after discharge from service. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection based on his service-connected foot and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disorder, which he claims was incurred during military service. The claim has been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether his current condition is related to his service-connected low back disability or if it is aggravated by that condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, headaches, left shoulder disorder, left arm disorder, and chest pain are all related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disability and PTSD, but denied his request for an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial rating greater than 40 percent for the residuals of a lumbar spine injury, including a claim for an increased evaluation on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of new evidence, including a medical report from a private physician.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims.

The Board has remanded the case to provide a VA addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine caused or aggravated his neck disability. The appeal is now pending for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, a neck disability, and memory loss. The Veteran's mild blepharitis of the eyes is rated at 10%.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as for sinus condition, bilateral foot nail fungus, and eczema, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed in order to make a decision on the Veteran's claims, including service connection for back, neck, and headache disabilities; initial rating for anxiety disorder; and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as his representative withdrew the appeal for the two issues listed above.

The Veteran's right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy has been productive of mild incomplete paralysis, and the criteria for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, determine the etiology of his disabilities, and consider his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an examination and addendum opinions to address the relationship between his service-connected right shoulder disorder and his left shoulder degenerative joint disease and cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability, but it is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking any current back disability to service. The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability (neck) and nerve disability of the right upper extremity are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected post-concussion residuals, including headaches with cognitive impairment, are rated at 70 percent effective October 23, 2008. The Board denied an extraschedular rating for the period prior to October 23, 2008 and found that a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spines.