Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, right shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset in service and is therefore granted service connection. The Board also granted the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and residual scarring associated with a history of collapsed left lung.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine disabilities are being remanded as the Board finds that separate examinations are needed to determine if any of these conditions is related to his in-service injury. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not due to or the result of any incident of service. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a direct link between her current neck condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and new evidence is needed for both cervical spine disorder and left knee disorder claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice in conjunction with a TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left hand and arm disabilities were not incurred in service or due to a service-connected disability, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a neck disability, including consideration of whether his preexisting condition was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to have had its onset during service and is related to his military service. Service connection for allergic rhinitis, chronic maxillary sinusitis, and deviated nasal septum are granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia was denied as it is not considered a disability. The Board found that there is no current disability associated with the claimed condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional verification of his service records, particularly regarding any prior service in the East Tennessee National Guard from November 1963 to July 1964.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disorder, to include pain secondary to scoliosis, and herniated discs in the lumbar spine; and entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder to include protruding discs at C6-C7.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to July 15, 2008. From July 15, 2008 to November 7, 2011, the Veteran's disability was rated at 30 percent. Since then, it has been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain missing records and conduct a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The issues include increased evaluations for cervical spine strain and thoracolumbar spine strain, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder NOS, is found to be related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The issues of service connection for urinary tract infections and prostatitis are remanded as the evidence does not provide sufficient information on their etiology.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current cervical spine disability to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection. For his low back disability, the Board found that it was related to service based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for dysphagia was denied as it is part of his GERD with Schatzki's ring. His increased rating claim for cervical spine disability was also denied due to lack of evidence showing unfavorable ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or neurologic impairment.