Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's neck disability, to include cervical degenerative joint disease and cervical degenerative disc disease, was granted service connection. The right shoulder and right arm disabilities were denied service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a cervical spine disability, finding that his pre-existing conditions did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's thoracic and cervical spine conditions, along with related nerve involvement of his lower extremities, have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The evaluations are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability was not incurred during active service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been rated at 10 percent since January 1, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for records related to motor vehicle accidents and treatment of back and neck conditions, as well as for medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are related to his in-service fall, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion from an appropriate VA examiner to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employment. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service.,Regarding GERD and hiatal hernia, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of his total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the claim to reopen his cervical spine disability was also denied. The Board is remanding the case for additional development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise and, therefore, service connection for a neck disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spinal stenosis with bilateral neural foraminal stenosis and degenerative changes is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from July 1, 2000, to November 1, 2001, and from August 1, 2003, to August 8, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left hand tingling and numbness, and headache disorder. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The Veteran's kidney stones have been granted a 10% rating effective September 22, 2016. The other issues were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee, right knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment since September 30, 2008. The Board finds that his employment from September 30, 2008 to January 12, 2009 was marginal employment due to his service-connected knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that additional functional loss due to flare-ups and pain warrants this higher rating.