Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is related to his military service or developed within a year of his separation from service, and if so, whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability and/or lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine is reasonably attributable to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, neck, and left foot disabilities are service-connected. The claim for lower extremity radiculopathy is denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition. The claim for a broken collarbone is denied due to lack of evidence of any residual disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for several of his claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and potential need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability remains under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic cervical strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of her disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the motion for revision of a January 2009 decision that granted increased ratings (of 10 percent prior to February 10, 2004, and 30 percent from November 7, 2007) for the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability based on there being CUE in that decision.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are currently rated as 20 percent for the cervical spine, but not greater than 10 percent for the lumbar spine. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case due to allegations of increased severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability since her last VA examination. The claim is being returned for a new examination to determine the current severity of the disability.

The Board found that there was no evidence of diabetes mellitus or ischemic heart disease in service, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides. The right knee arthritis is considered secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability as of August 17, 2007.,A higher 30 percent rating was granted for his cervical spine disability effective October 25, 2011.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee and cervical spine disorders, finding that the conditions are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 30 percent since March 1999. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition, with pain on use and occasional muscle spasms, moderate to severe limitation of motion without ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to address the etiology of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for current spine disabilities and a right leg neurologic disability, which he claims are related to an injury sustained during INACDUTRA in April 1977. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right leg disabilities. This includes obtaining Army Reserve records to verify his active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA periods, obtaining SSA records, and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of any current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the provision of his complete VA treatment records from May 2009 to present.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.,New evidence received since the August 2007 decision supports reopening claims for lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.,New evidence received since the August 2007 decision supports reopening claims for lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The claim for residuals of TBI was also denied.