Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and cervical spine have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no additional ratings granted.,Service connection has not been established for fatigue and insomnia or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The issues of bilateral eye disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability were not addressed as they are moot due to a grant of service connection in another decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, as the additional evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has decided that the case should be remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a copy of the chiropractor's letter. The intertwined issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is also referred back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were evaluated at 10 percent prior to September 2, 2010, and the Board found that these evaluations did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to obtain relevant medical records. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board found that the February 1994 rating decision denying service connection for hypertension, left lower extremity weakness, low back pain, hearing loss, cervical spine disability, depressive disorder, and headaches was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The cervical spine disability may be related to his military service, but an addendum opinion is needed to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, coccyx disability, or bilateral hand disability that is causally related to his military service or to service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current cervical spine disability to service, and denied his claim.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung and heart disabilities, as well as several other conditions, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after service, nor any competent medical opinion linking them to service.

The Board has determined that there are no separate neurological manifestations involving either upper or lower extremities associated with the Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, respectively.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities. The reopened claims are addressed in the Remand section.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a local hearing with a Decision Review Officer (DRO). The claims of service connection for TBI, cervical spine issues, and facial injuries are pending.

The Veteran's appeal involves reopening of previously denied claims for service connection due to exposure to contaminated water while stationed at Camp Lejeune. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for issuance of a statement of the case as to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability, entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, entitlement to service connection for a traumatic brain injury with residual headaches, and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, sleep apnea, and a neck disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from November 21, 2003, but his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to August 15, 2013 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is not more than mild in nature.