Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders were initially manifested during active service.,Service connection is granted for recurrent cervicalgia and cervical spine degenerative changes with neural foraminal narrowing; recurrent right knee chondromalacia and patellofemoral syndrome; and recurrent left knee chondromalacia and patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on the question of whether currently diagnosed hearing loss is related to service, and resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities are etiologically related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hip condition and there is no evidence of record linking his cervical spine condition to service-connected conditions. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hip condition as secondary to service-connected conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his combined rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, cervical radiculopathy, heart condition (presumably ischemic heart disease), eczema, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA medical opinions provided less than 50% probability for a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and peripheral neuropathy are related to his service, with doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and found that it is related to his in-service injuries. The issues of effective dates, initial ratings, and service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a left lower extremity disability, cervical spine disability, and variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not related to his active service, including a reported jeep accident in Vietnam. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, PTSD, and right wrist were withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine injury and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's intervertebral disc disease of the cervical spine and right arm neuropathy and myopathy are related to his military service. The lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease status post-surgery with residual scars have also been granted as a direct result of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The diagnoses were not related to service or the presumption of in-service exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mood disorder and multiple spine and nerve conditions, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since September 14, 2010. A total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is granted.