Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2016

The Veteran's current right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disorders are causally related to in-service occurrences as a parachute jumper. The Board finds service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings for right shoulder strain status post arthroscopic repair and cephalgia prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for cervical strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected hearing loss, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for separate ratings for neurological manifestations of his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to unclear findings in the record regarding whether these symptoms are related to the service-connected conditions or other disabilities.

The Board has ordered a supplemental examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disorder had its onset during service, specifically considering his complaints of arm and elbow pain while on active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate notice and scheduling of VA examinations for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service connected. The upper gastrointestinal disability (GERD) and lower gastrointestinal disability (intestinal hypermobility, gastroenteritis, and irritable bowel syndrome) are both service-connected as separate disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and arthritis of the cervical spine may not be presumed to have occurred therein.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck injury is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of a basis for rating each claim on appeal.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 30 percent, and his cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disability was granted. The claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple spine conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the low back disability since May 12, 2014. The Veteran was also granted TDIU effective June 15, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied all of his service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with a previous remand order, issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding entitlement to TDIU, and for obtaining updated VA medical treatment records. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for low back disorder and cervical spine disorder.