Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Board will consider whether separate ratings may be assigned for different periods of time based on facts found.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder. The cervical spine disorder issue is also pending.

The Board has found that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral hip disability and therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for this condition must be denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability prior to February 26, 2010 was denied. However, he received a grant of a 20 percent rating from that date forward.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and traumatic arthropathy, was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, warranting a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for neck, right elbow, right wrist, and right shoulder disabilities. The examiner concluded that these conditions are less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and ensuring that all pertinent evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the extent of his cervical spine disability and whether he has headaches due to this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, GERD, and TBI were denied. Service connection was granted for cervical spine disability with a 10% rating effective July 16, 2009, and lumbar spine disability with a 10% rating prior to November 28, 2011, and a 20% rating thereafter.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and bilateral leg disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The claims for headaches and PTSD were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during military service and has been continuous since then, granting service connection for this condition. The other issues of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent prior to October 31, 2011. The most recent VA examination conducted in October 2011 found that the condition warranted a 20 percent evaluation based on muscle spasm and mild to moderate pain with some movements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that there was no evidence of a penis deformity or erectile dysfunction. The rating for prostate cancer was reduced from 100% to 20%, effective October 1, 2009.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology, including whether it is related to service-connected left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine. The claims were denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service or a service-connected condition. As such, the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to her service-connected right knee disability.,Her left knee disability is not directly related to service, but rather due to overcompensation for the service-connected right knee disability.