Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical/lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence showing such condition was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and an initial compensable evaluation for thoracolumbar strain prior to September 11, 2010. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as his tinnitus, are at least as likely as not related to his active service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and his headaches, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy were not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an incorrect address being used in sending a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability and residuals of head injury, including headaches and vertigo, are related to traumatic accidents during active service. The decision is based on evidence in relative equipoise.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a new examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding new and material evidence. The claims are now pending before the RO for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of right shoulder, right knee, left knee, bilateral eye disorder, right ear hearing loss, and sinusitis has been withdrawn.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, and service connection claims for a right shoulder disability, a lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The neck/cervical spine issue will be remanded for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left arm disability, a left wrist disability, and a left finger/hand disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's left lower extremity disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective June 15, 2007. The earlier effective date for the grant of a 40 percent evaluation for this disability has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of control of bodily function, diabetes mellitus, and myofacial cervical and lumbar spine syndrome. The decision found that there was no direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a thoracic spine fracture, and neck cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional evidence, schedule VA examinations, and readjudicate the issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The criteria for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes were not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and status post cervical fusion residuals were denied as there was no evidence to support a higher rating based on the current manifestations.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbar spondylosis is found to be related to his active service.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is found to be related to his active service.,The Veteran's occipital neuralgia manifested by headaches, as secondary to degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, is found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disorder, which he claims was caused by an injury in May 2000. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities that are secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee conditions. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records, schedule the Veteran for VA examinations, and determine the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.