Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, hip, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to service due to acoustic trauma. The respiratory disorder (COPD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and cervical spine injury due to failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricability of the service connection claims for back and neck disabilities. The claim will be redjudicated after all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, cervical spine, respiratory disorder (manifested by sinusitis and/or rhinitis), and respiratory disorder (manifested by asthma) conditions are not related to her military service. Her hypertension is also not related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of cervical radiculopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, neuropathy of the lower extremities, or neuropathy of the upper extremities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that it had its onset in service. The Veteran's other claims seeking increased ratings are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities leave him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left wrist disabilities are being remanded for additional examination to assess the current severity of his conditions, as there is evidence of potential worsening.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine condition is related to service, and thus granted his claim for service connection. The right shoulder condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and alcohol dependence claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is more likely than not related to his in-service injury during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and neck disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are being remanded due to inadequate examinations in the past. The VA is required to obtain updated medical opinions regarding functional loss caused by flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that it was not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his separation examination report and determine if any of the claimed disabilities were related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines, finding that the Veteran's chronic headaches began in service and are related to his service-connected TBI. Service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was denied. The Board also remanded her service connection claim for a psychiatric disability, to include depression (MDD), but did not reach a decision on it due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical examinations and securing outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability, heart disability, extremity numbness, dizziness, eye disability, leg disability, back disability, and neck disability are all denied as the evidence does not support a connection to service or any incident of service origin.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left proximal fifth metatarsal fracture do not warrant a compensable rating. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's left shoulder AC joint arthrosis, cervical spine degenerative disease, or low back disability are related to his active service.