Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, including service treatment records from his active duty period from January 2010 to January 2012.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy, are being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the causation and aggravation aspects of service connection. The case will be re-adjudicated after obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination. The primary issue on appeal is whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected lumbar spine and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for herniated disc, cervical spine and osteoarthritis, right hip based on new evidence provided by the Veteran. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues, and a new hearing will be arranged for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied. The current evaluation is 20 percent, effective January 6, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck disability is not etiologically related to his active duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The cervical spine issue was remanded but an adequate opinion could not be provided by the examiner.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 30% from March 1, 2009 to May 28, 2013 and is restored. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service and affording him all reasonable doubt.

The Board found that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, cardiac disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death and its relationship to service-connected conditions. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's untimely death, which was attributed to a severe asthma attack exacerbated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions to assess his service-connected disabilities. The specific claim for a TDIU will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, neck disability, bilateral hand pain, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral hip disability is granted as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred due to an undiagnosed illness during his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities are found to be likely preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his multiple conditions render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is not rated higher than the current assigned ratings prior to and after specific dates.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for an examination addressing his functional impairment from service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including a left shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss as it was granted in a December 2013 rating decision. The claim for service connection of cervical spine disorder remains pending.