Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and canal stenosis with right upper extremity radiculopathy, is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice to the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, claimed as neck strain, is being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected low back disability and his cervical spine disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disorders due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the VA examination reports are inadequate and remands for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical myelopathy status post cervical disc decompression surgery, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus complications and a July 2004 fall. The claim of reopening the hypertension claim was withdrawn.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a dental disability, hypertension, headache syndrome, L5-S1 degenerative disc disease, cervical degenerative spondylosis, and a rash. The decision found that none of these conditions were related to service or could be presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current cervical spine disability and denied his claim for service connection. The claims for lumbar spine and bilateral hip disabilities are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine conditions are not related to his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities, and therefore, denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disability did not manifest during service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a neck disability is denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was not shown to result in limitation of motion that is objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion prior to August 16, 2011. Therefore, a compensable rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is related to his National Guard service, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The claim for both conditions is therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, nor was it caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing cervical spine disability did not become aggravated by service, and therefore, does not warrant service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, a skin disorder of the face and chin, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for eczema of the feet was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions and disorders, but the Board is remanding these cases due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition. The July 2012 VA examination report supports the finding of a right shoulder disability incurred during ACDUTRA, which is related to active service. Regarding the cervical spine disability, the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability, as the previous examination did not fully satisfy the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald.