Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted, with a disability rating of 20% for the cervical spine condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands (CTS), secondary to diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Veteran's testimony at his May 2012 hearing indicates he currently has this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for tinnitus, sprained fingers, a left third finger fracture, cervical trauma, a left groin pull, a chipped bone, left elbow, a chipped bone, right elbow, a right hamstring disability (also claimed as thigh), a left hamstring disability (also claimed as thigh), right Achilles tendon trauma; lateral ligament injury, left wrist trauma, right wrist trauma, a right hand disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as nerve problem and trauma), depression, chronic pain syndrome, left Achilles tendon trauma, a left hand disability, to include carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as nerve problem and trauma), and status post right great toe fracture.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and torticollis. The case is REMANDED for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing and any other necessary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and left shoulder pain are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

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

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 30 percent, effective June 19, 2008. His right shoulder disability remains rated at 20 percent. The Board has granted a higher rating for the cervical spine disability but denied an increase in the rating for the right shoulder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to assess his cervical spine disability, including any upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims by his authorized representative prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and cannot be presumed based on the one-year presumption for a chronic disease. The VA examiner found no link between the service-connected right hip and right knee disabilities and the cervical spine disability, nor did they find aggravation of the nonservice-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since October 16, 2006. The effective date for this rating remains October 16, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, characterized by degenerative discogenic changes with disc bulging and small disc protrusion at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and central stenosis. The Veteran's neck disability is remanded for further development.

The Board found no credible evidence of an injury to the Veteran's neck during service and concluded that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a finding of continuity of symptomatology. Therefore, the cervical spine disability was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed disabilities, including vertigo, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current neck disability and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities is due to his service-connected arthritis of the cervical spine, and left ulnar neuropathy had its onset during active service. Therefore, service connection for a neurological disorder of the bilateral upper extremities is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, hip disability on secondary basis to a service-connected right knee disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, increased rating for right knee disability, and increase in PTSD rating. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence for reopening the claim of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.