Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, cervical strain, and migraine headaches. The claim for a cervical strain was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran is granted three annual clothing allowances for the year 2013 due to wear and tear on his upper body clothing caused by his neck brace, forearm crutches, and right knee brace.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his cervical spine disability, as well as for obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran seeks an increased initial rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining copies of all VA examinations and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination for the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, and requesting that the Veteran provide authorization for VA to obtain any relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoporosis of the cervical spine was denied because he did not attend a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current condition related to his military service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred or aggravated therein.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not meet the threshold percentage requirement for a TDIU as they combine to an 80% disability rating. The Veteran has failed to provide sufficient evidence of his current employment status and education history.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck disorder is not related to his in-service motor vehicle accident and denied service connection for a neck disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records regarding the Veteran's deep vein thrombosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine strain began during service and is related to his in-service work as a dental assistant, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected low back disability, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and denied his claims for service connection. The claim for increased rating for lumbar strain is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including schizophrenia and other musculoskeletal issues. The Board will consider the evidence in its entirety during the remand process.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a respiratory disorder, to include asthma. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his period of active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, neck disability, and TBI with headaches as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The VA examiners found that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant notifying the Board of their desire to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability (other than cervical strain) and left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spines, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, traumatic brain injury, and allergic rhinitis. The disability ratings remain at their current levels.