Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an eye disorder has been withdrawn. The Board finds no evidence of a current hearing loss disability under VA guidelines, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus as it was incurred during active duty and continues to persist.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bone spurs of the cervical spine. The Veteran currently has a diagnosed cervical spine disorder, which he asserts is related to his military service. Therefore, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional service treatment records, verify dates of active duty and inactive duty training (IDT), and schedule a VA examination for his claimed cervical spine and right hand disabilities. The issue of PTSD will also be addressed in the statement of the case.

The Board has directed the VA to schedule the Veteran for additional examinations and remand his claims due to lack of proper notification of scheduled examinations.

The Board found that the evidence received since May 2004 is new but not material, and thus did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome. The cervical spine disability claim was reopened based on new evidence, but service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's headaches are presumed to have been incurred in service. His bilateral knee disorders, cervical spine disorder and right leg sciatica are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil with metastasis to cervical lymph node, including as secondary to herbicide or asbestos exposure (claimed as throat cancer), is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, neck disability, right shoulder disability, and hypertension due to inadequate VA examination records. The Veteran's file will be reviewed by a VA examiner who conducted previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his residuals of SFW, right neck with neuropathy, supraclavicular cutaneous nerve was granted and he is now rated at 40 percent effective May 13, 2010. His claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that there was insufficient evidence to link these conditions to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for duodenal ulcer and chronic cervical strain, finding that these conditions were first manifested during active service. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection due to a failure to report for a VA examination and an incorrect issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The case is now being returned to the Board for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as for VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, requiring a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest opportunity.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disorder and cervical spine disorder, with a separate 20 percent rating assigned for each. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hip, knee, and left ankle disabilities were not found to be related to his service-connected cervical spine and thoracic spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 3, 2007 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of extraschedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with headaches, is not related to his service. The VA examiner opined that the condition was more likely due to age-related changes rather than an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and lack of information regarding the onset of his cervical spine disorder.