Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for diabetes, right knee disability, and leukocytosis at the June 2015 hearing. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his headache disability is service-connected as secondary to the cervical spine disability. The Board has granted these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck disorder and sleep apnea are not related to his active duty service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and granted it. Service connection is also established for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine DJD/arthritis, and migraine headaches are all granted service connection. The hypertension is presumed due to active service, the cervical spine DJD/arthritis is presumptively related to service, and the migraine headaches are secondary to the cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for PTSD, neck disability, and memory loss are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA Social and Industrial Survey to determine the combined effect of her service-connected disabilities on her ability to perform sedentary type of work.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and the evidence does not support service connection for any of her claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 10% disability rating for scars of the forehead and chin was denied. The claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including PTSD with depression, were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as a residual of an in-service head injury (claimed as TBI). The remaining claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees is found to be etiologically related to active service. The Board finds that new VA examinations are necessary to determine if his low back strain, cervical and neck strain, and bilateral ankle strains are etiologically related to active service or secondary to his now service-connected bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo is not related to her service-connected disabilities and has granted a TDIU based on her multiple service-connected conditions preventing her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a fatigue disability due to her major depressive disorder with PTSD, which is considered a direct service connection.,Service connection was also granted for actinic keratosis, but the issue of whether it is related to service remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine is being remanded due to a previous inadequate VA examination. The case will be processed again with an appropriate VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized by pain and decreased range of motion, did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for left shoulder tendonitis, cervical spine disorder, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity prior to a decision being made.