Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right upper extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee strain. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for his left axillary adenopathy with rhomboid spasm.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for asthma and cervical spine disorder due to incomplete development of his service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying his periods of active duty training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and his left upper extremity neuropathy was not found. The Board denied increased ratings for left knee instability and arthritis, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination, requiring further development.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current sleep apnea or cervical spine disability to his service, and determined that any current disabilities are not related to his service-connected right shoulder disability. As a result, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board hearing. His claims for service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his cervical spine condition and for further development regarding his claim for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability, and right knee disability. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically those from Fort Monmouth and Fort Dix hospitals during the Veteran's hospitalization in January-February 1968.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen his claims for hepatitis C and PTSD. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted in these cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder strain, and left shoulder strain first manifested during active service. The claims are therefore granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, neck disability, and back disability are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his Reserve service status and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic neck disorder during service and the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is related to active military service or events therein.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not show that his condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his service-connected knee disabilities and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, effective October 5, 2005. The rating for the right and left upper extremity radiculopathy was also granted but not in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and gastrointestinal (IBS) disorders are not related to service or service-connected disabilities. However, hypertension is found to be unrelated to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions. The appeal is not about service connection at all.