Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical incompetence with dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain is related to her military service, while her abdominal disability other than cervical incompetence is not. Therefore, she is granted service connection for cervical incompetence but denied for the claimed abdominal disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability has been reopened. The Board finds that the Veteran has a cervical spine disability secondary to his service-connected low back disability and grants this claim. However, further examination is needed to determine appropriate ratings for other disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and tinnitus. He also withdrew his service connection claim for fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are related to his service, and thus grants these claims.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection claims due to procedural issues, as well as denied his claim of a reduction in PTSD rating. The appeal was not addressed further.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and cervical spine conditions are not related to service, but his bilateral hearing loss is presumed due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.,Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain and low back disability, as well as his claim for TDIU based on these disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's neck and right wrist disabilities are found to be related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his period of honorable active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's neck disability and tension headaches were evaluated, with the neck disability receiving a noncompensable rating prior to September 6, 2016, and a compensable (non-compensable) rating for tension headaches. The appeal is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain. As such, service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's neck disorder is related to his active duty service. The examiner opined that any arthritis of the neck is less likely than not incurred in or caused by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to her military service and cannot be granted service connection as it did not manifest during or within one year after service. The VA examiners have concluded that the cervical spine disorder is a result of normal aging, rather than being caused by or aggravated by her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, a cervical spine disability, and joint pain in the knees, elbows, neck, and fingers. The appeal is dismissed as to the left shoulder cyst.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cervical spine pain/chronic myositis paracervical spine muscles, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral elbows, ankles, shoulders, knees, wrists, and hips, and dyslipidemia have been remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of cervical spondylosis and upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II, has been withdrawn prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The left shoulder disability claim was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability determination(s) and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.