Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and a cervical spine disability to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability and numbness of the hands is being remanded due to incomplete examination reports. The VA will schedule him for an appropriate examination to determine the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from December 2006 to the present. The case will be reviewed again after this additional evidence is obtained.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it was incurred in or related to active service.,Service connection was granted for left knee arthritis, with the benefit of doubt given to the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including lumbar strain, cervical strain with bilateral radiculopathy, right hip strain, and traumatic brain injury. The issues include increased ratings for these conditions as well as a TDIU prior to September 11, 2008. Additional development is needed due to incomplete examination reports and conflicting employment history.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for voiding dysfunction, as a residual of adenocarcinoma of the prostate, is denied. The RO has granted a 40 percent rating for this disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is denied as there is no legal entitlement to such a date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his thoracic kyphosis and additional development is needed for other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disabilities are directly related to his military service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability, which includes arthritis, was incurred during service and is related to his in-service right shoulder disability. The cervical spine disability is also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for pectus excavatum. The appellant's current disabilities, including neck disability, pain with walking, organic brain syndrome, and cardiovascular disability, are not shown to be related to his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's initial evaluations for cervical degenerative arthritis, frozen left shoulder (minor), and frozen right shoulder (major) have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability and arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service. The most competent evidence preponderates against a finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues, including the ratings for elevated right hemidiaphragm, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine disability, and neurological deficit of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal on the issue of increased rating for lumbar spine disc herniation at L4-L5 and L5-S1 was dismissed due to his withdrawal during a hearing. The cervical spine disability claim is remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current thoracolumbar spine disorder or cervical spine disorder related to service. The claim for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling for DJD. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.