Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of thoracolumbar fusion at T9 and L1 are currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 22, 2012. The Veteran's cervical intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the appeal to the AOJ for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, as well as right hand and arm disability. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of a relationship between his in-service injuries and current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and left shoulder degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's cardiac arrhythmia with chest pain is not considered related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his headaches, as well as whether they are related to his service-connected cervical strain with muscle spasm.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected lumbar spinal stenosis, and whether it was caused or aggravated by that condition.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right shoulder disability, including radiculopathy. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a spine disability, claimed both as directly related to service and as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability that is causally related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

Service connection was granted for a bilateral knee disorder, but service connection remains denied for cervical spine disorder and hearing loss.,A higher rating is sought for the low back disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of his claim. A separate rating for headaches associated with this condition has also been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and his cervical spine disability has been granted a 20 percent rating since April 24, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address service connection claims for memory loss, fatigue, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's LUE radiculopathy has been rated at 30 percent since May 1, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to incomplete paralysis of all radicular groups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spondylosis and two level osteophyte encroachment of neural foramina, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's cause of death, respiratory arrest due to hepatorenal failure, was found to be caused by his service-connected chronic active hepatitis B. As this condition is considered new and material evidence related to the Veteran's service, it has been granted as a basis for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder claim is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for acromioclavicular joint arthropathy of the right shoulder and mid-cervical facet arthropathy with foraminal stenosis at the third to fourth cervical vertebra level on the right, both related to in-service injuries. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not currently addressed as they were remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed back disorder is at least as likely as not related to her military service, and thus service connection for a back disorder is granted.