Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals concerning the claims of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for neck and right shoulder injuries, as well as the Veteran's claim of increased rating for his left knee disability. The decision also dismissed his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records of private medical treatment prior to entry into active service and VA treatment records since April 2012. The Veteran will also be afforded a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain clarification of a March 2010 VA examination report and to ensure that any additional relevant records are obtained. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine arthritis will be evaluated again.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period from February 19, 1982 to March 7, 2004 due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and cervical arthritis.

The Board has remanded this case for further development and consideration, including scheduling the Veteran for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability are not related to service, while his neck disability is related. The claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment at the time of his death, thus denying entitlement to TDIU for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2010 VA examination and the need for an opinion regarding his employability.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative arthritis and spondylolysis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was no increase in disability beyond normal progress due to pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing and to address whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's arthritis of the right great toe claim is also on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine, hips, and knees are not related to his service-connected claw foot and edema. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been rated at 20 percent since June 20, 2005. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability based on the range of motion and symptoms reported.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not related to service, including his alleged exposure in an armored tank. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions were more likely due to a long-term history of manual labor jobs, multiple injuries, and age-related degeneration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability, combine to form a 60 percent disability rating. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective June 22, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a cervical spine disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, right arm and left arm disabilities, as well as psychiatric disorder (listed as depression) and COPD, all secondary to service-connected conditions or other causes. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a cervical spine injury, including cervical radiculopathy at C5 and C6 and involving the left upper extremity, are related to an injury in service and grants service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not related to his active military service or any incident therein, nor are they due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected right or left knee disabilities.