Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip disability and cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are due to combat stressors. Service connection was also granted for Reiter's syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability, finding that the applicable schedular criteria were adequate to rate the disability under consideration at all points pertinent to this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and consideration of new evidence. The issues regarding his service-connected spine disorders are still under review.

The Veteran's temporomandibular joint disease was rated at 30% effective December 1, 2006.,The Veteran's residuals of left wrist fracture were rated at 10% effective December 1, 2006.,The Veteran's cervical spine strain was rated at 20% effective December 1, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric condition. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The VA reduced the Veteran's disability rating for traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine with disc disease from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective May 1, 2010. The reduction was proper based on sustained improvement in range of motion and lack of incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot hallux valgus and cervical spine disability are related to his service, with the right foot condition being secondary to a service-connected left foot condition. The decision grants these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and right hip disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's back condition is service-connected.,Glaucoma was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's cervical strain with DDD, lumbar strain with DDD, and left lower extremity atrophy are being remanded for further development as the VA examination is inadequate to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbosacral strain, and left and right carpal tunnel disabilities prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including two in-service injuries. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The appeal was remanded multiple times, but the claims were ultimately denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disabilities are not related to his service, and arthritis of the cervical spine did not manifest within one year post-service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's cervical strain with multilevel degenerative spondylosis is more likely due to natural aging process rather than in-service injury.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disorder, as well as her claim for an increased rating for low back strain. The case will be remanded to obtain new VA examinations and opinions regarding these issues.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for left hand arthritis, left arm numbness, or degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine on a direct basis.