Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn regarding service connection for ADHD and learning disability, as well as the evaluation of her left index finger.,For the cervical spine disability, a rating higher than 20 percent is not warranted due to lack of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his parachute injury in service and is more likely due to age-related wear and tear. Service connection for this condition was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria under the rating schedule.

The Veteran's service records do not show any injury to the right knee during his military service. A cyst was found in October 2006, over a year after separation from active duty.,There is no indication of tinnitus in the Veteran's service records. The first mention of tinnitus is in February 1989 STRs.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his cervical spine degenerative joint disease and follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a hearing request, and will address both issues of service connection for knee disabilities and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative changes, is found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The right hip disability has not been diagnosed and thus cannot be granted as secondary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, ulcerative colitis, and recurrent lumbosacral strain have been withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board has dismissed these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's shoulder disability is related to an in-service injury, and therefore service connection for a shoulder disability is granted. The issue of whether the cervical spine disability is secondary to the shoulder disability remains on appeal.

The case is being remanded due to the loss of the claims file and missing evidence. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to assess his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, and additional development will be completed as requested in the March 2010 Remand.

The Veteran's cervical spine disabilities have been rated as 10 percent for each condition, with a 30 percent rating for the cervical spondylosis with traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine. The other conditions remain at 10 percent.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was found to have a combined range of motion of the cervical spine to 280 degrees, with no muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait. The Veteran's foot condition did not show any abnormalities on imaging studies and had no impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's cervical strain was incurred in service and is granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown during the appeal period, thus denial of service connection. Lung scarring due to pneumonia was also incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of current back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The appellant's claims for service connection for headaches, neck disability, shoulder disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for neurological abnormalities associated with the service-connected low back disability, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's subjective complaints were not substantiated by objective findings such as EMG testing.

The Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is service-connected as it had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a cervical spine disorder were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development of his service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying his periods of active duty.