Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disability and to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing as requested by his representative. The issues of service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined rating of 80 percent, qualifying him for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including headaches, spine conditions, and hand/tendon disorders. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an opinion on the impact of these disabilities on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, thoracic or lumbar spine, and acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against her claims.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative changes and cervical spine disability have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and he is not entitled to a higher evaluation. The Board has also found that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 28, 2007 for a 20% rating for traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is related to his in-service neck injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted as accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical disc disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, including any additional functional loss due to flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. He will be provided with the option of rescheduling a hearing in accordance with his request.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar strain, effective August 17, 2012. The cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent and remains unchanged.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, right and left knee disability, right and left ankle disability, and a left foot disability are all found to be related to service. The initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if any current joint disorders are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed thoracolumbar, cervical spine disorders, and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20 percent, and his lumbar spine, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and left knee degenerative joint disease have been granted effective from November 13, 2009.

The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for cervical spine disorder (cervical strain with degenerative disc disease) is denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neck or cervical spine disability was not incurred in service and is not etiologically related to an event, disease, or injury of service origin.,The Board also finds that the Veteran's left upper extremity neurological disability (numbness) did not manifest during service and is not etiologically related to a service-connected disability.