Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, neck, and neurological disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck pain, right shoulder pain, and right knee pain are not related to his active service.,There is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disability is not related to service or a service-connected disability, but his right upper extremity neurological disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome) is secondary to his service-connected residuals of the right hand and wrist injury.

The Veteran's appeal involves issues related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical and lumbar spine. The case is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck condition is less likely than not related to his in-service injury and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as an evaluation of his sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury claims.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted a rating higher than 50 percent, and she was also granted an increased rating for her low back condition. The cervical spine condition and right median nerve neuropathy were not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions to address the etiology of his cervical spine stenosis and increased rating claim for trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscle spasm.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorders, headaches, cervical spine disorders, lumbar spine disorders, acquired psychiatric/mental disorders (including PTSD, depression, anxiety), and sleep disorders. The Board found no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and neurological disability of the upper extremities are service-connected, with a rating of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the low back effective from August 13, 2008.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current asthma or cervical spine disabilities, and thus service connection cannot be established for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic back condition in the service medical records observed over many years. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records from November 2014 to present. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right rotator cuff tear with arthritis (right shoulder disability), secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability, is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private medical records from specific providers.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for IVDS with thoracolumbar strain, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches and cervical spine disability have been denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. R.A.K. and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not linked to disease or injury incurred in active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis status post C3-4, C4-5, and C7-T1 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion exhibited unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less. Therefore, a rating in excess of 40 percent is not met.