Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IADT), obtaining updated VA treatment records, and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed cervical conditions, skin rash, and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for various conditions have become moot.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain relevant workers compensation and Social Security Administration records, as well as a supplemental VA medical opinion. The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder DJD, right elbow disability, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are related to a motor vehicle accident he was involved in during ACDUTRA, leading to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft is granted with an initial rating of 30 percent effective November 30, 2011. The other issues are not addressed as the appeal was not about service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including low back and bilateral hip conditions, were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and any in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at Yuma Regional Medical Center on October 6, 2011 are approved as the treatment was necessary due to his service-connected PTSD and the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not due to or the result of any incident of service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, effective May 24, 2011. The claim for an increased rating has been granted.,For the period prior to September 4, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a traumatic dislocation of the right shoulder with loss of motion is rated as 30 percent disabling. For the period on and after September 4, 2013, the rating has been increased to 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting cervical spine disorder was aggravated by his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from November 16, 1971 to February 19, 1972. As a result, service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claim for a cervical spine disability and his TDIU claim due to the lack of new and material evidence, as well as the absence of any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the etiology of his sleep disorder, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease is related to his in-service injury, resulting in service connection being granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been REMANDED due to the need for a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disease with left upper extremity radiculopathy is found to have originated during his active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his cervical stenosis, spondylosis at C5, C6, and C7, and degenerative disc disease at C5-6 and C6-7 with neuroforaminal encroachment was denied. The current evaluation is 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and propriety of assigned ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and service connection for cervical and lumbar spine spondylosis. His request for automobile and adaptive equipment was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and mechanical headaches are caused by her service-connected right shoulder reconstruction with distal clavicle resection osteoplasty and degenerative joint disease, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis for the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right lower extremity disabilities. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.,The Veteran's hypertension was not evaluated in this decision.