Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including schizophrenia and hemorrhoids, do not necessitate the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis to attend to the activities of daily living.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development, including obtaining a Statement of the Case for issues related to service connection and rating decisions. Additionally, additional records are needed from Social Security Administration (SSA) and a VA examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are related to an injury sustained in service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, liver cancer, a lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, a bladder disability, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period from June 5, 2009, to April 25, 2013. The Board granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) during this timeframe.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's claim for cervical spine strain was denied, and his claim for back disability is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a neurological examination to determine the nature and etiology of any numbness or small fiber peripheral neuropathy associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's current cervical spine disorder was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's cervical strain was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating between June 1, 2005 and April 20, 2010.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of a back, neck, or bilateral leg disability and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for a neck disability, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support the current diagnosis of cervical spine degenerative joint disease, facet syndrome, spondylo myelopathy, muscle spasm, and genetic torsion dystonia. The onset of these disabilities is believed to have occurred during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The rating reflects functional equivalent to unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and TMJ dysfunction. The case will be remanded to obtain relevant medical records, schedule VA examinations, and consider the claims based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The claim was denied as it could not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pelvis disorder and unequal leg length was granted. However, the claims for increased ratings of his thoracolumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, and bilateral hand tendonitis remain pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, lower extremity sciatica, cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated medical records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be reconsidered after the completion of these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim for back disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities were also not granted as they are not presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.