Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature of any nodule on her neck.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, or cervical spine disorder. For his right knee disability, a compensable rating was granted but no more than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, pelvis disorder, and residuals of a concussion (memory loss) in July 2005. New evidence submitted since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no causal link to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, migraine disorder, and jaw disorder. After considering all of the evidence, including a private medical opinion linking current disabilities to service trauma, the Board finds in favor of granting these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities have been denied. The evaluation for the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent, while the evaluation for the cervical spine prior to February 29, 2012 is still at 10 percent.,For the period before February 29, 2012, the Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated as 10 percent disabling. However, starting from that date, it has been rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service neck/cervical spine injury and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for cervical spine spondylosis.,The Board also found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for headaches as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy with a noncompensable rating, denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, and deferred service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from February 1997 to August 2006 and since March 2012. The appeal is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a disability rating of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability. His claim for an increased disability rating for prostatitis prior to July 1, 2013, and greater than 40 percent from that date, was also granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying opinions on the nexus of his claimed disabilities with service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, specifically whether they were caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, bronchial asthma, lumbosacral strain, left arm radiculopathy associated with cervical strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, residuals of a right wrist injury with fibrositis, left ankle injury, tinnitus, sinusitis, left knee injury, and cervical strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polysubstance abuse as secondary to his service-connected thoracic scoliosis and/or cervical spine degenerative disc disease was denied. The reduction of the ratings for bilateral lower extremity disabilities from 20 percent to 10 percent effective September 1, 2014 is upheld.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including low back, neck, right shoulder, and right foot disabilities, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain missing service medical records, worker's compensation records, and deck logs related to the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine and cervical spine disorders. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and review of the claims file, particularly regarding cervical radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pains in his arms and hands is being returned for further development.