Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion and because his cervical spine disability may be related to his lumbar spine disability. A new examination and opinion are required.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound as a result of his service-connected disabilities, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid & attendance/housebound status.

The Veteran's neck disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service, particularly the injuries in 1985 and 1986. The claim will also be reviewed based on whether the current neck disability is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine condition during service or within one year after separation, and concluded that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of back injury, a neck disorder, gastrointestinal disability, diabetes mellitus, and glaucoma. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical records and requests for additional information.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a head injury, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is not service-connected as there was no neck injury or disease during service, and chronic symptoms of cervical spine arthritis were not manifested during service. The TDIU claim is granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, cervical spine strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing was not properly scheduled due to undeliverable letters, and the case is being remanded to schedule another hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, but the specific details of each grant are not provided in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist sprain and right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014. The Board finds that the earliest claim for entitlement to benefits for both a left wrist sprain and a right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine disability, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are all related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck and right shoulder disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of chronic conditions manifesting within one year post-service.

The Veteran's joint pains are attributed to known clinical diagnoses of degenerative conditions and are not related to his active service, including exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA outpatient treatment records. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of her bilateral hand, knee, and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the local RO. The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis, cervical spine disorder, and leg pain are pending.