Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify the nature of his service in July 1997 and to obtain a clarifying addendum opinion from the May 2013 VA examiner regarding the meaning of 'similar episodes in the past'.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for colon cancer, neck disability, and cervical radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to his military service or any associated herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities were not related to service and the Board denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied as he failed to report for scheduled examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current Traumatic Brain Injury or Cervical Spine Disability (neck condition) related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula or IVDS Formula.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease, did not originate in service or within one year of service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA Fayetteville.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The claims will be adjudicated again after any necessary development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection in any of the four issues on appeal. The cervical spine disorder, asthma, skin disorder, and hepatitis are all denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to a lack of information regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The RO is instructed to obtain this information and provide the Veteran with appropriate VCAA notice.

The Board has vacated the March 6, 2009 decision denying an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain with intervertebral disc syndrome. The May 2006 rating decision is considered final as it denied service connection for an upper back disorder. New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an upper back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are reasonably shown to have contributed to his acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as secondary to service-connected disabilities, are met.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and hypertension, as well as to schedule him for appropriate examinations. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Regional Office.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right knee disabilities were not shown to be related to service.,VA has reviewed all available evidence and determined that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disability is due to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that cervical radiculopathy of the right arm is related to service-connected intervertebral disc disease of the cervical spine, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand was not manifest during or within one year after service.