Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety or depression, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions did not have a direct link to his military service and no presumption of service connection was established.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate medical opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to February 27, 2014. Since February 27, 2014, the combined effect of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spondylosis, and left arm radiculopathy, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraines, to include as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability, has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, hypertension, a left ankle disorder, restless leg syndrome, a left shoulder disorder, a cervical spine disorder, a right knee disorder, hearing loss, and prostate disorder are denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity was granted, with a current effective date of July 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and scheduling of a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the St. Petersburg, Florida RO.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if he needs regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine with radiculopathy was incurred in service and is granted.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, to include as secondary to residuals of an epigastric hernia repair, was withdrawn during the hearing. The effective dates for bilateral tinnitus and GERD were denied.,There is no indication that the Veteran submitted a claim prior to September 30, 2003, for service connection for bilateral tinnitus. There is also no indication that he filed a claim prior to June 16, 2008, for service connection for GERD.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip and low back disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee disability.,There is no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, or nexus between the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and his claimed right hip and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability was denied, as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the cervical spine less than 30 degrees or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of least 2 weeks during any 12 month period. The claims for service connection for an upper respiratory infection and bilateral hearing loss were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities are not etiologically related to his service, including a motor vehicle accident during service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his neck injury in service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting new examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, neck disability, bunion right foot, and bunion left foot were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty. Service connection is not granted for a bilateral hip disability as there is no evidence of its onset in or being otherwise related to service.

The Board is granting service connection for a foreshortened right leg and consequent right hip disability. However, the remaining claims of service connection for hypothyroidism, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and low testosterone are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, left hand ring finger disability, and neck disability are related to his service. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these claims.