Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in service and is not related to his active military service. The Board also determined that it is less likely than not that the cervical spine disorder is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for back or neck disabilities, as there is no probative nexus opinion linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical disc disease and protrusions are related to his in-service neck injury, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical arthritis. The claims of service connection for cervical spine DJD and DDD with scoliosis, lumbar spine DJD and DDD with spinal stenosis and thoracic spine DDD, and bilateral leg radiculopathy are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The right hip disability claim is pending as it was not addressed in the November 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding her cervical condition and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her lumbar myofascial pain condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a new VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board granted service connection for the appellant's right knee disability and assigned an initial rating of 20 percent effective September 9, 2010. The cervical spine disability was also granted with a separate initial rating of 10 percent effective September 9, 2010. The TDIU claim is still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied, and his claim for an increased rating for cervical spine disability resulted in a 10% rating being assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU are met.

The Board has granted a 40% disability rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, effective January 30, 2017. The claim to reopen and service connection for a neck disability was also granted.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 70 percent, with 'one service-connected disability' ratable at at least 40 percent. However, the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his cervical spine disability and left shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders are not related to military service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, which may be associated with his active service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no left ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left knee, cervical spine, psychiatric, and stomach surgery disabilities. The Board finds that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 24, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for cervical strain, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the right and left knees have all been denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the compensable evaluation for traumatic brain injury was withdrawn. The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as these conditions are not related to service.