Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, including a motor vehicle accident. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are less likely than not caused by any military service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine, lumbar spine, or bilateral hip disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed cervical spine disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the finding that his MVA was a result of willful misconduct. The Board is remanding the case for further clarification and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including those related to increased ratings for cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, left foot disability, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The issues of service connection for a hip disorder are also inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's neck injury during service resulted in current cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, which is now service-connected.,Agent Orange exposure during service led to a current diagnosis of lichen simplex chronicus, for which the Veteran is also service-connected.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction, presumed related to his service-connected postoperative left inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted, but the ratings for these conditions remain at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of August 3, 2005, the date the Veteran initially filed his claim. The issues of service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities, as well as whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to October 2, 2012 or since that date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of his cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip and right knee disabilities. This includes obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a comprehensive orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's claims for multiple myeloma, chloracne/skin disability, arthritis, sinusitis, asthma, and hypertension have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability related to service or the exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's cervical spine and knee claims. The PTSD claim is also being remanded as it was reopened but a SOC has not been issued.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and to obtain Social Security Administration records potentially relevant to the issues before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as a separate evaluation for left upper radicular nerve group paralysis, were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, to include as secondary to residuals of a right tibial fracture due to insufficient rationale provided by previous VA examiners and the need for additional evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner provided a thorough rationale for his opinion based on the available evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have additional disability due to VA treatment for headaches, bilateral elbow disabilities, or cervical spine disabilities. The claims were denied as there was no evidence of causation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability and has granted service connection based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury.