Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted a 30% rating for the Veteran's cervical spine strain from August 25, 2016. The remaining issues of increased ratings and separate ratings for radiculopathy are remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete records, including a lack of personnel records. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional medical evidence and complete an application for increased compensation based on unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for Gulf War syndrome (claimed as chronic fatigue) is dismissed.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is granted due to reopening of the claim and evidence showing it is related to service. Secondary service connection for thoracic spine disability, sleep apnea, and chronic lumbar spine disability are denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the service connection claims for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 29, 2011. The evidence showed that the Veteran was able to work as an electrical engineer and consultant until January 2009, despite some physical impairments.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran has not had a low back disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran’s right hip disability did not begin during active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran’s left hip disability did not begin during active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran has not had a bilateral eye disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's hypertension was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for low back strain, cervical spondylosis, and bilateral patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to the need for new medical examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience as of May 23, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been reopened, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development.,Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, OSA, cervical spine disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cyclic neutropenia and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that new evidence supports reopening these claims. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered disabilities for purposes of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for kidney cancer and cervical dystonia due to herbicide exposure, as there is insufficient information to verify his claimed exposure. The case will be sent back for further development including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to preclude substantially gainful employment, and a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is being asked to provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, prostate disorder, erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and others. The claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar, cervical spine, and left shoulder strains are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of a nexus between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and chronic strain of the left ankle are being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

Service connection is granted for neck disability and headaches. The Veteran's low back disability remains rated at 20 percent, but the issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate for nonservice-connected pension, so his claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inextricably intertwined issues with TDIU. The Veteran's income was found not to exceed maximum annual pension rates, allowing him to receive NSC pension.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for a seizure disorder, back disorder, and neck disorder is granted. The claim for service connection for the seizure disorder is reopened due to new evidence provided by a private provider. The claims for service connection for the back disorder and neck disorder remain denied as no new and material evidence has been submitted.