Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, as well as an increased rating for migraine headaches. The Board dismissed these issues due to withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, neck disability, and bilateral elbow disability due to incomplete development. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a Social and Industrial Survey and obtaining updated VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for his cervical spine, left knee, and left hip conditions. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of restoring the Veteran's 60% rating for his lumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent for unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine, effective from December 3, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective January 1, 2009. His cervical spondylosis is also rated at 20 percent, effective the same date. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have effectively resulted in the loss of use of his feet, and he is granted special monthly compensation based on this. He is also granted assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine and right shoulder conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his July 4, 1996 fall at the VA facility.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spine arthritis, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Geoffrey Seidel and Dr. Michael Kapsokavathis.

Your appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a videoconference or Travel Board hearing at your local RO. The case will be processed accordingly.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a spine examination to assess his cervical and lumbar spondylosis. An addendum opinion on service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, will also be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left arm impairment due to disc extrusion at C6-7 of the cervical spine is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a TBI, cervical spine or thoracolumbar spine disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to missing VA medical records. The Veteran's service connection claims for low back and upper back disabilities, secondary to his left knee disability, are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and neck disabilities are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, low back disability, and neck disability due to a lack of new and material evidence. The claims were not reopened as there was no indication that current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left thigh dermatitis was withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claim of service connection for right 1st metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.