Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and further development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, knee and ankle injuries, a muscle disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an anxiety disorder. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various foot and elbow conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for her right elbow fracture, cervical degenerative disc disease, or plantar fasciitis with heel spurs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart, cervical spine, low back, right knee, carotid artery stenosis, and peripheral vascular disease conditions are not related to his service or a service-connected disability. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran's headaches and cervical spine disability are service-connected, with the headaches being related to her in-service complaints of frequent or severe headaches. The lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal prior to the Board issuing a final decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including dysphagia, neck disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, sinus disability, hypertension, sleep disturbance, and loss of vision of the right eye, based on presumptive service connection due to active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for recurrent pleurisy, to include scar on lung as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied his other service connection and rating claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder need to be remanded due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death, and whether his suicide was related to his severe chronic pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders did not begin during active service or within one year after discharge from service. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection based on his service-connected foot and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disorder, which he claims was incurred during military service. The claim has been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether his current condition is related to his service-connected low back disability or if it is aggravated by that condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, headaches, left shoulder disorder, left arm disorder, and chest pain are all related to his military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disability and PTSD, but denied his request for an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial rating greater than 40 percent for the residuals of a lumbar spine injury, including a claim for an increased evaluation on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of new evidence, including a medical report from a private physician.