Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected, and his lumbosacral strain with post-surgical laminectomy and total spinal fusion from L2 to S1 currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine with spondylosis, and assigned a 20 percent evaluation effective October 24, 2007.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and lumbar spine disability have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The Veteran is seeking higher initial evaluations for these conditions, but the current ratings of 20% for cervical spondylosis and 10% for the lumbar spine disability are maintained.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further examination and consideration due to inadequate examinations in December 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected disabilities. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, residuals of a back injury, cervical spine disability, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) have been granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disability and that his spondylotic changes at the right side of the sternum were not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic/lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability are being reviewed again with new evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, a low back disability, a neck disability, and a right shoulder disability, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of her cervical spine disorder and any related neurological impairment. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The initial rating assigned was appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's joint pain affecting his back, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands/fingers, and hips has been attributed to clinical diagnoses including DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, DDD and DJD of the cervical spine with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder, arm, hand and finger tendonitis, and chronic bilateral wrist sprain. The Veteran's disabilities affecting his back, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands/fingers, hips, and legs did not originate in service or within a year of service, and are not otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing and the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) on several service connection claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral rotator cuff tear, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, neck disability, bilateral leg disability (due to a non-service-connected back disability), headaches, and vertigo as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active service.,The Veteran reported intermittent back pain during service but x-rays did not show any underlying pathology. No diagnosis was made at separation from service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings for cervical spine disability, sinusitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and umbilical hernia. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a direct relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine condition and his service or any service-connected conditions, thus denying the claim for service connection.