Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, which was dismissed by the Board.

The Veteran has a chronic cervical strain that began during her military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against a finding that any claimed conditions had their onset in or were related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, finding that the evidence is at least as likely as not related to active service. The Veteran's credible account of an in-service injury was considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records and an orthopedic examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a sleep disorder remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, neck, bilateral foot, skin, BPH, and hypertension disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset or etiology in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder with degenerative changes is not related to her military service and did not manifest within one year of her discharge. Therefore, she does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and tinnitus, as well as her increased rating claims for depressive disorder and sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with appropriate examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected cervical spine disability and headache disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for SMC by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria established in 38 C.F.R. § 3.352(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of his VA benefits due to his dementia diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his combined disability rating of 90% supports the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for vision loss, finding that the Veteran's current visual disability is related to a head injury sustained during active military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability claimed as neck pain remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for cervical disc herniation and a separate evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy was denied. The current evaluations are considered the maximum available under VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine and left hip disorders are not related to service, as there is no evidence of injury or disease during service and no continuity of symptoms since service. The current conditions are considered unrelated to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, prior to July 18, 2012, was manifested by limited range of motion without ankylosis or associated neurological disabilities. The claim for a higher evaluation is denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's cervical musculotendinous strain is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by her representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.