Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical neck disability, but dismissed the Veteran's claims of left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD (including major depressive disorder) is dismissed. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded. The claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's initial rating of 10 percent for his service-connected cervical strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and an updated VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, low back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disability as they were not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's cervical disc disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) L3-4, and left knee sprain are granted with increased ratings effective February 28, 2011. The issues of service connection for epididymitis and eczema are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine conditions, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that any current disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's limb girdle muscular dystrophy, bilateral foot disorder, left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder are all granted. The Veteran's service connection for an eye disorder, cervical and lumbar spine disorders, thyroid condition, right and left hip disorders, right and left knee disorders, right and left ankle disorders, right and left toenail removal, sleep disorder, skin rash, and hysterectomy is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding that there is a causal relationship between his in-service injuries and his current disabilities. The decision also reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, respiratory disability (sinusitis), right shoulder disability, left hand and finger anesthesia, left little finger fracture, left thumb fracture, and cervical spine spondylosis with degenerative disc disease.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a neck disability is granted. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for low back pain is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and his service, as well as a failure to obtain an opinion on secondary service connection for the cervical spine disability related to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The RO should schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate clinician to determine if any current cervical spine disability is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence, as well as his claim regarding CUE in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, and neurological disabilities of the upper extremities have been granted service connection. The Veteran has also received increased ratings for his migraine headaches and a TDIU effective July 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, neck disability, left index finger wart, right shoulder disability, and right quadricep muscle tear or right knee disability due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities.,Service treatment records document injuries but do not show chronic conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine surgery in 2002 resulted in complications, including nerve damage affecting his neck and upper extremities. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an independent medical expert opinion regarding the cause of these additional disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of February 16, 2006 for the award of service connection for a cervical spine disability was granted. The issue of entitlement to initial ratings for his low back and migraine disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.