Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying service dates, and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after all available evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain is rated at 30 percent, and he has a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board finds service connection for a cervical spine disability secondary to his service-connected mechanical low back pain.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is not etiologically related to active service, and his claimed sinus polyps and deviated septum, bilateral arthritis of the knees, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. These conditions are related to the Veteran's Reserve service duties.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after his second period of active duty. The Board finds that the current cervical spine disability did not begin in service and is not otherwise related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of signed consent forms for ECT treatments provided from November 29, 2006 to December 11, 2006. The Veteran is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for any additional disabilities caused by these treatments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities since May 1, 2008. An effective date of May 1, 2008 for the award of a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records, updated treatment records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to have developed due to in-service injury or disease, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The right wrist disability does not warrant a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence, including treatment records from after the last VA examination.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a cervical spine disorder and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder. As such, the claim remains denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disease of the cervical spine, including whether it is related to his service-connected lumbar strain. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The neck disability issue remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were granted, but the specific ratings assigned are not provided in this decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, which resulted from a surgical procedure for spondylosis, has been rated at 10 percent since December 1, 2010. The current rating is appropriate as the evidence does not show that his condition warrants an increase in disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his back and neck disabilities, are related to his service. The Board has granted the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and right arm disability were not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service.,Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied as the right arm weakness did not result from VA care, treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his cervical spine disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.