Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee, left foot, cervical spine, and ED disorders were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.,Service connection was denied for these conditions as they are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back strain is related to her active duty service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, remains pending as the claimant's diagnosis does not meet the criteria for PTSD under DSM-IV but instead diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Service connection for a cervical spine disability is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability, neck disability, hand/finger disabilities, knee disabilities, foot disabilities, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective August 1, 2003. The appeal for higher ratings and extension of the temporary total rating was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is less likely than not related to his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical and thoracolumbar spine, left ankle arthritis with pain on motion, hypertension, and posttraumatic headaches were denied. The effective dates for the 20 percent ratings assigned to these conditions have been confirmed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such severity to preclude substantially gainful employment prior to August 6, 2010.

The Veteran's disabilities are permanent and total in nature, meeting the criteria for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for cervical dysphasia was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for depression and/or dysthymic disorder as secondary to her service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination for his cervical spine disability and because of inextricably intertwined issues regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is related to his service-connected post-concussive disorder with headaches.

The Veteran's cervicobrachialgia with right arm parasthesias is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate. The Veteran's cervical spine disability has not been service connected.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in January 2013 are inadequate for rating purposes and thus, the case must be remanded to obtain new evaluations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claims for knee, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and pes planus disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent rating since March 14, 2008. The claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability was denied. The issue of TDIU is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current back or neck disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the July 24, 1981 motor vehicle accident was not in the line of duty due to the Appellant's willful misconduct. Therefore, service connection for neck disability, back disability, right knee disability, and PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The case was remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases in the decision, specifically regarding the lack of consideration of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examination and failure to address pertinent service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.