Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for the right elbow and increased ratings for the neck. The Veteran's appeal of hearing loss is denied as his puretone thresholds do not meet VA criteria for a disability. The claims for increased ratings for the right shoulder and feet, as well as sinusitis with headaches, are remanded due to lack of proper procedural steps.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for neck disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and tinnitus requires additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's neck disability is caused by her service-connected low back disability and if it is aggravated by that condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist scarring is not compensable, but he meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board found no current service-connected disabilities for the Veteran's claimed back and neck conditions. The pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment for the entire appellate period prior to May 31, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, low back, and bilateral hip disabilities are being returned to the VA examiner for additional development as they were not fully addressed in previous examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his active duty service and has granted service connection for this condition. The cervical spine disability, however, was not found to be related to service or any other compensable condition.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination due to the lack of consideration of the Veteran's reported history and documented complaints in the previous July 2017 VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his cervical spine disability, which he contends is related to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and review by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as he has already been awarded SMC due to his service-connected brain tumor and other disabilities combined to a 60% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. The current evaluation is 40 percent disabling, effective April 11, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's olecranon bursitis, left elbow, is no longer on appeal as he withdrew his request for an increased rating.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective April 3, 2008.,A 40 percent rating for headaches/ traumatic brain injury was granted effective April 3, 2009.