Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective February 20, 2013. Before this date, the disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disorders have been denied as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development of his service connection claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right knee, neck, and gastrointestinal disorders but has not granted service connection for any of these conditions.,New evidence submitted since previous decisions raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for right knee, neck, and gastrointestinal disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including a C5 compression fracture, was incurred during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Board found that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity and symptoms of his disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, back disability (as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability), left shoulder disability, and left elbow disability are related to his active service. The Veteran's tinnitus and vision loss do not have onset during active service or are not etiologically related to active service. Adult acne is also not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder as secondary to the service-connected low back disability due to inadequate VA compensation examination and opinion. The Veteran needs to be provided with a new VA compensation examination to determine if his cervical spine disorder is aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of his conditions.

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

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the current evaluation of 20 percent is appropriate given the evidence showing forward flexion greater than 15 degrees but not less than 30 degrees, and no ankylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The right knee disability is also found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's initial higher ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show forward flexion of either spine at or below the required levels.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and left upper extremity disabilities are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, cervical spine strain, bilateral knee strain, and bilateral foot strain are not related to his service.,There is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease that could have led to these current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current neck disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected migraine headaches and traumatic brain injury, which are etiologically related to his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability and headaches are not related to his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further proceedings due to the need to obtain unit records from the Veteran's service in Bahrain.