Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for foot calluses and residuals of a back injury have been reopened, but the evidence does not support the grant of service connection for either condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the initial ratings assigned for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, traumatic brain injury, and a right ear tympanic membrane in a January 2017 written statement.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling him for examinations to address his psychiatric, cervical spine, and cardiovascular disabilities. The effective dates of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and femoral nerve are also pending resolution.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not related to active service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of the issues on appeal, including service connection, rating, and TDIU issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and compliance with recent court decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dental and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's glucose intolerance is not a service-connected disability, and the cervical spine disability is not shown to be related to his active duty. The Board finds that service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and spine and right knee disabilities, but severed service connection for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, and limitation of flexion in the right knee is set at April 27, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and renal cell carcinoma, as well as secondary service connection for lytic lesions of the cervical spine, left hip, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and skull. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 7, 2014.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a cervical spine injury or condition during service, and the current disability is not shown to be related to any in-service event. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was determined to be less likely as not incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals of anterior discectomy with fusion of the cervical spine was dismissed without prejudice. The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also dismissed without prejudice. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted. New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a previously denied and final claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical degenerative disk disease with fusion at C5-C6 was not related to service, including hard landings and a metal grate incident in service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not causally related to active service.

The Veteran's left knee, back, and neck disabilities were not shown to be related to his service-connected foot disability or incurred during service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DISH of the cervical spine is at least as likely as not etiologically related to his active service, including a head injury during active duty. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has ordered additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for these purposes.