Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Board found no evidence of a neck injury during service and concluded that the Veteran's current neck disability is not related to his military service. For the psychiatric claims, the VA examiner noted in-service mental health treatment but concluded there was insufficient evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation in the applicable period.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary to address the questions of whether the Veteran's claimed carpal tunnel syndrome and back disability had their clinical onset during active service or is otherwise the result of a disease or injury in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that new evidence supports a potential nexus to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability as secondary to service-connected left shoulder trauma with chronic peritendinitis, traumatic.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants an initial increased disability rating of 50 percent for the period prior to December 1, 2010. For the period from December 1, 2010, the criteria for a higher disability rating are not met. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any cervical spine disorder, as well as obtaining outstanding medical records. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate he had a history of neck injury in 1949, but no symptoms or limitation of motion upon examination. He also testified about an injury in 1957 during service.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, cervical spine disability, and bilateral testicle disability are all found to be related to his active service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and low back disability, finding that these conditions clearly existed prior to her second period of active duty. The Board also found that the Veteran's adjustment disorder is not related to her lumbar spine injury.

The Veteran's neck disability and right upper extremity disability are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for cervical spine DDD is granted, with a current disability rating of 20 percent.,Service connection for OSA is granted.

The Veteran's nerve and muscle disorder of the right upper extremity is found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's scar associated with the right upper chest/shoulder stab wound has been assigned a noncompensable rating, but an initial compensable rating of 10% is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of her service-connected thoracic and cervical strains with degenerative changes, in compliance with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016) and the May 2016 remand order.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, knee, and foot conditions are not related to his service or a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an initial increased rating for cervical disc disease and entitlement to TDIU in an August 2016 written statement, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee, hip, and ankle disabilities due to lack of diagnosis. The claim of service connection for a neck disability is reopened based on new evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder and neck/cervical spine disabilities are not related to her active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint pain is due to a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and thus service connection is granted.