Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's sleep apnea, left shoulder disability (other than cervical radiculopathy), and back disability (other than cervical spine) were not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was denied due to lack of evidence in service records and no new material evidence submitted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is not granted as it is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss was not substantiated as the Veteran did not have sufficient impairment to qualify as a disability. The claim for service connection for residuals of left leg thrombosis, respiratory disability, and left knee disability is addressed in the REMAND section. Other claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a schedular rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the criteria for a higher schedular rating were met at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral lung disorder and cervical spine disorder to the AOJ for further development.

The Board is remanding the case for further development due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and requests a new opinion on whether the Veteran's cervical spine and thoracic spine disabilities are related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment without the assistance of others, warranting special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The VA examinations and medical records do not support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are not service-connected as they were congenital defects without superimposed injury or disease, and there is no evidence showing a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck and back disabilities are related to his service, including a grenade explosion during basic training. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disorder is found to be related to service, and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded for additional examinations to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a new VA examination. The claims for increased rating of cervical strain and TDIU will be adjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was denied. The current evaluations of 10 percent prior to June 25, 2012 and 20 percent since that date were found not to meet the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, cervical spine, and bilateral elbow disabilities are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities and for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy have been rated based on their severity, with the highest ratings granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal involves issues related to his urinary tract infections, cervical dysplasia, a sleep disorder, and dependency benefits for his children. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for further development and consideration of his claims, including a cervical spine disorder claim and an earlier effective date claim for his right middle finger disability.