Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Board Videoconference hearing due to her request for such.

The Veteran's PTSD was not found to be related to service, as the in-service stressor was not corroborated.,The cervical spine strain disorder and arthritis were also not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, neck, and left knee disabilities but denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's current disabilities of the neck, low back, and left knee are considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate previous VA examinations. The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities will be evaluated again.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current right shoulder or cervical spine disorders that were incurred in service. The evidence does not show continuity of symptomatology since service, and there is no medical opinion linking his current conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded. His claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches is also being remanded, but he must first perfect his appeal by filing a Substantive Appeal.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and headache disorders. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent was assigned for tinnitus and there is no provision for separate evaluations for bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for extension of a temporary total rating beyond October 1, 2009, based on a need for convalescence following surgery for his service-connected cervical spine disability was denied. The Board found that the criteria for an extension were not met due to lack of severe postoperative residuals or immobilization by cast without surgery.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck disability did not have its onset during service and is not etiologically related to his active duty service or to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The arthritis was noted to have manifested within one year of separation from active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and providing the Veteran with notice of secondary service connection requirements.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be related to a fall during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The left shoulder disability claim has been deferred pending completion of additional VA examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for cervical spine DDD prior to April 4, 2014 is denied. From that date forward, a higher than 20 percent rating is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disorders are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year thereafter. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disorder and also denied his claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The evidence did not establish that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to inadequate VA examination reports and outstanding records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right great toe disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development of the evidence.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for low back disability, increased rating for cervical spine strain, and compensable ratings for chronic hypersensitivity of the penis and recurrent right ankle sprain. The claims are dismissed.

The appellant has withdrawn all issues related to the appeal, including those regarding service connection for PTSD and anxiety, evaluations of shoulder conditions, major depressive disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's cervical strain with disc bulging and degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.