Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling prior to December 26, 2012 and 60 percent disabling since that date. The cervical spine disability was also rated at 20 percent prior to December 26, 2012 and 60 percent since then.,The Veteran's chronic headaches are currently rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and remanded the right shoulder and lower back disabilities. The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, effective March 4, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected chronic borrelia infection/Lyme disease and considering his TDIU claim. The Veteran is also requested to provide medical records from all providers who have treated him.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical evidence and an opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck and low back disabilities due to a request for another hearing.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from May 17, 2016. The Board found that the combined effects of his cervical spine disability and bilateral arm disabilities do not warrant an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of her cervical spine disability. The issue will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has remanded the case due to difficulties in locating the Veteran and scheduling a hearing. The Veteran's current address must be verified, and he is reminded of his duty to keep VA informed of any changes in his address.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected grand mal seizures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities are as likely as not attributable to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his service, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected GSW residuals, PTSD, or diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and a cervical spine condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely due to natural aging process rather than his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate examination report and the need for a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability results in the functional equivalent of forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less, particularly during flare-ups. Prior to May 4, 2012, her service-connected disabilities precluded her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine DJD, finding that there is a nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service complaints of neck and back related issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be due to his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with depressed mood, which the Board found contributed substantially and materially to his death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot because the appellant has prevailed on her claim for service connection for cause of death. The accrued benefits claim is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to determine whether the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations for the psychiatric, cervical spine, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.