Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in the aggregate, preclude him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected residuals of low back strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage rating standards for TDIU as he does not have a single disability rated at least 40 percent disabling. The Board finds that referral to VA officials for entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dermatologic disability of the feet and scalp is service-connected, but his cervical spine, bilateral hip/ pelvic, and bilateral ankle disabilities are not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims. The Veteran is not granted any benefits at this time.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's current ringing in his ears is related to his service. The other issues on appeal are addressed below.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA and workers' compensation records, as well as a VA examination. The issues include increased ratings for low back strain and cervical strain, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient review of private treatment records and lay statements, and a need for an addendum from the August 2011 VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical and thoracic spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected conditions warranted higher evaluations prior to July 8, 2003.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his active military service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders due to outstanding service hospital records and updated VA medical records. The case will be returned to the AMC for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder with spasms, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The cervical spine disorder is not related to active duty service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's temporomandibular dysfunction, residuals of fractured mandible, is rated as 20 percent disabling since December 21, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and arthritis of the right hand, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his relocation and failure to report to scheduled VA examinations. The case is now pending again with the AMC.

The Board found no evidence linking the appellant's current cervical and lumbar spine or right testicle removal disabilities to his military service, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been characterized by pain, a noncompensable level of limitation of motion, and muscle spasm that did not result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour. The current rating of 10 percent is appropriate based on the criteria for degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require aid and attendance of another person, as his need for assistance is primarily due to his seizure disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis, status post fusion has not met the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to August 24, 2013. Effective from August 24, 2013, the disability is manifested by limitation of motion to 20 degrees of forward flexion with painful motion beginning at 15 degrees and warrants a 30% evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.