Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and any SSA disability benefits information. The AOJ should also request updated VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and sleep apnea are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder and granted it. The issue of service connection for vertigo is also addressed, with an examination recommended to determine its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions that were aggravated by service. The Board also found that any change in condition during service was due to natural progression.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to December 9, 2013 and has been rated at 40 percent since then. The cervical spine disability remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and development were not fully completed, and thus the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as previous instructions were not fully followed.

The Board has determined that the appellant's cervical cancer and hysterectomy are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of their onset during her period of active duty training. The small bowel obstruction was also not service-connected due to its being related to treatment for a nonservice-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck disability did not have its onset during service, nor did it manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active service. The Board concluded that the Veteran does not have a neck disability that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing via videoconference. The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and cervical spine degenerative disc disease with right-sided radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not show symptoms warranting higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and awarded an effective date of June 11, 2009 for the grant of TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are secondary to his service-connected thoracic strain with degenerative disc disease, and thus grants these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed back, neck, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical examination to address whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability caused or aggravated his cervical spine disability, including due to overcompensation or other postural issues resulting from the lumbar spine disability. The examiner must consider the effects of push-ups and heavy lifting during service on the Veteran's cervical spine.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating effective September 13, 2011. A separate 20 percent rating for left upper extremity neurological impairment was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case as he is no longer alive.