Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical strain (neck disability) cannot be earlier than September 9, 2009.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective September 30, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.,A separate 20 percent rating has been granted for left upper extremity neuropathy associated with the cervical spine disability since September 30, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as residuals of a head injury, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran claims service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he asserts occurred during combat service. The VA examiner will be asked to determine if the current cervical spine disability is related to the in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and cervical degenerative disc disease are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the North Little Rock RO for scheduling a Travel Board or videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's chronic neck pain due to strain is found to have been incurred during service, and the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, skin disorder, and facet arthropathy of the lumbosacral spine. The initial ratings assigned are 10 percent for each condition. The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), septal deviation, status-post nasal fracture, and a scar on the left fourth finger.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a neck disorder that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders. The Veteran's claims were previously denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not resolved and requires further examination to determine if his current disabilities had their clinical onset during active service or are related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition and cervical spine condition. However, due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including recent MRI results, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability are all service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records, securing a vocational rehabilitation folder, and providing VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, psychiatric disorders (including drug and alcohol abuse), and service-connected lumbar spine herniated disc and left lower extremity neuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, and the Board finds that it is unrelated to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine disability. The Veteran was also denied TDIU as his disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, without consideration of his age or non-service connected disabilities, prevent the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's initial rating for his DDD of the cervical spine was granted, but he is also granted service connection for headaches that are secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.