Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral foot, and skin disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected, and the Board denied his claim for PTSD as well.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The specific service connection or exposure basis details are not provided in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral renal cysts are not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to take jurisdiction over the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability and the reopened claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issues of an increased rating for the service connected lumbar spine disability are REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and residuals of a right femur fracture. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also service-connected. However, initial disability ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records from Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center, and for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for disability manifested by frequent urination, cervical spine stenosis, and a skin disorder were denied. The Board finds that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased initial disability rating for hemorrhoids and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability and neck disability. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess his ability to function in most employment settings due to his service-connected disabilities, and for further development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine strain, lumbar spine strain with arthritis and disc disease, headache disorder, and TMJ disability are all service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records, specifically related to an August 2014 spine surgery.

The Veteran's cervical sprain and right ankle strain have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, with no evidence of incapacitating episodes or favorable ankylosis. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's dermatitis and actinic keratosis of the bilateral upper extremities are service-connected. The left hand scar, seizure disorder, and arthritis of the cervical spine and shoulders are not service-connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C, but denied his claim for cervical spine disability. The decision is mixed as it grants one issue and denies another.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his cervical spine and traumatic brain injury disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's nerve damage of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity have been granted service connection with effective dates set at January 5, 2010.