Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and completion of a formal application for TDIU.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability to 20 percent effective June 28, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including presbyopia and COPD, were not shown to be related to service or due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal was not timely filed, and the Board lacks jurisdiction to consider the merits of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected fracture of the left medial malleolus was denied. The Board also found that there is no evidence to support an award of TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, as they do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, right wrist, left wrist, right hand (palm disorder), left hand (palm disorder), right shoulder, left shoulder osteoarthritis, right knee, and left knee disorders are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including cervical spine disability, right elbow and arm disability, left arm and shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and headaches, were not incurred or aggravated by service. Service connection was denied as the evidence did not establish a nexus between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete VA examination and failure to address certain issues.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due solely to the effects of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a neck disability. The Board finds that TDIU is granted for the period before May 10, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and found that his cervical spondylosis with C5-6 and C6-7 stenosis is related to his service-connected lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes in spondylosis of the dorsal spine, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and gastrointestinal issues, were denied as there is no current disability or evidence of a causal relationship to active military service.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal of all remaining issues has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability warrants a rating of 20 percent effective September 22, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine disabilities are not service-connected. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for cervical spine strain and degenerative disc disease of the L4-5 with facet arthrosis were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.