Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back, neck, wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, 30 percent for his cervical spine disability, 10 percent for his right wrist injury, 10 percent for his right ankle disability, or 10 percent for his right knee tendonitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The upper respiratory disability issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a hearing.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck condition and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss disability.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, but his claim of service connection for a neck condition remains pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for her cervical spine disability prior to September 22, 2011 was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The same is true for an increased rating since that date.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for the requested increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability, specifically cervical spondylosis, is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of a retrospective medical opinion regarding his ability to work during the period from September 18, 2006 to March 23, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the additional disability resulting from the June 2004 cervical spine surgery and follow-up care was not caused by VA fault or a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the surgery, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that a cervical spine disorder, including DDD and mechanical low back pain, did not manifest in service and is not otherwise related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated as noncompensable prior to September 10, 2007, and 10 percent from that date to May 21, 2013, with a 40 percent rating beginning May 22, 2013. The cervical spine disability was also rated as noncompensably disabling prior to May 22, 2013, and 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy were denied. The VA examiners found that the Veteran's conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on their current manifestations.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to have been manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 45 degrees prior to January 11, 2011. The RO denied an increased rating for this condition as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, cervical spine disorder, left upper extremity disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder have all been denied. The only condition found to be service connected is the pre-existing left femur fracture with residual leg shortening.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the neck, cervical spine disc disease, and cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are all granted.