Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cluster headaches were initially manifested during active service and are now granted as service connected. The cervical spine disorder, lung disorder, and skin disorder are also found to be related to service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected headaches, finding that the Veteran's frequent and prolonged headache episodes meet the criteria for this rating. The claim of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, or left knee disabilities. The conditions were not shown to be related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his cervical spine disability has been withdrawn.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of both the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including congestive heart failure and disorders of the cervical spine, right wrist, left shoulder, and right hip. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and providing an addendum to determine if there is a 50 percent or better probability that the Veteran's neck or cervical spine disability to include arthritis is etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disorders have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling since February 25, 1994. The claims for higher evaluations are denied.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are currently rated at 40 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and adjudicative action due to inadequate or incomplete opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to November 9, 2010 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the thoracic and lumbar spine, as well as her requests for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative changes to C5-6, residuals of injury to the cervical spine, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical radiculopathy of the left arm. The Veteran's disabilities were found not related to service.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's claims for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's service-connected shrapnel wound of the left leg with residual scars is rated at 10 percent, effective from November 2007. The Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss and has not been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his service-connected right shoulder disability and did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by his willful misconduct of abusing prescription medication, which is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and low back disabilities, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and neck disability with associated headaches, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.