Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and multiple joint pain. The Veteran's current sinus disorder was not found to be related to his active service or due to exposure to toxins including CARC paint.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis, neck disability, and low back disability were not related to his military service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these disabilities and his active duty or National Guard service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current cervical spine injury with compression fracture at C4 is related to his in-service injuries, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant's authorized representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease status post lumbar surgery with scar is productive of severe pain and limited motion, warranting a 40 percent rating effective August 1, 2008.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service onset and nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for papillary thyroid cancer, status post thyroidectomy.,The Board has also granted service connection for dissecting ascending aorta as secondary to the previously service-connected papillary thyroid cancer. However, both cervical and lumbar spine osteoarthritis claims have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected chronic low back strain and bilateral tinnitus, as well as her claim to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for hearing loss. The decision also addressed issues of service connection for various other conditions.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5257.,The Veteran's right knee painful limited motion is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for status-post fusion of C5-C6 and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy on a schedular basis, but granted extra-schedular evaluations for these conditions upon termination of the total convalescent rating effective from February 7, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder, left ulnar nerve, and cervical spine disabilities were denied. The initial rating for the left rotator cuff tendonitis was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. For the period prior to June 14, 2010, the Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. As of June 14, 2010, the middle radicular group (left ulnar neuropathy and cervical radiculopathy) was granted an initial rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the cervical spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, cervical spine, left knee and right knee disabilities based on the Veteran's credible assertions of in-service injuries and subsequent development of these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his right and left upper extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for DDD of the cervical spine, as it is not related to service or caused by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities on a secondary basis to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The VA examiners found no nexus between these conditions and the right shoulder.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral radiculopathy and neuropathy of the upper extremities on a secondary basis to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's cervical and thoracic spine disorders are found to be related to her military service, with the cervical disorder being incurred in the line of duty. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The rating for chronic low back strain remains unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disability of the cervical spine and left shoulder has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection in a February 2014 rating decision.