Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's right foot claw toe deformity and right foot neuropathy are currently rated at the minimum levels, with no higher ratings warranted. The cervical spine/neck disability is not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a spine disorder (cervical and lumbar), residuals of a hernia repair, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disorders have not presented an exceptional or unusual disability picture with marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, so the regular schedular standards are adequate for compensation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back and neck disabilities are secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his cervical spine disability was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 15, 2011, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The other claims were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is etiologically related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected cervical spine DJD was denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for left and right C7 radiculopathy has been granted earlier than April 28, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar-thoracic degenerative spine disease and cervical spine degenerative disc disease have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed cervical spine disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for diffuse cervical spondylosis with moderate to severe foraminal narrowing at C5-6 and moderate left-sided foraminal narrowing at C6-7.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, meeting the percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, the weight of medical opinion and other evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder with dizziness was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is manifested by transitory sensory involvement without objective findings of decreased sensation, decreased motor function, or any neurological abnormalities.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, thus denying her claims for service connection.

The Board found that there is no evidence of radiculopathy in the bilateral upper extremities or left lower extremity associated with the Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities. As such, separate compensable ratings for these conditions are not warranted.