Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disability in service or within the presumptive period, and concluded that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's headaches were found to be related to service, and she is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities and to clarify the nature and severity of his service-connected left ulnar neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and hypertension. The Veteran was not granted any increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine, both shoulders, and lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is REMANDED.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and chronic cervical strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic bronchitis with COPD, frostbite injuries to both feet, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left hip arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss were granted effective September 27, 2002. His claim for tinnitus was granted effective August 17, 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability (bronchitis) is not related to service, but reopened her claims for lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee disabilities due to new evidence. The claim for bilateral foot disability was also reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as a higher rating for ankylosing spondylitis. The Board found that these conditions were not related to his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the reduction of his disability rating for adenoid cystic cancer from 100% to noncompensable was found to be proper, and he did not meet criteria for an increased rating or a compensable rating for other service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim and found that new evidence supports a finding of current cervical spine disability related to service. The Veteran's current condition is considered direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spondylosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The VA examination provided a thorough review of the claims file, including the Veteran's history and symptoms, and concluded that his current cervical spine disability is not related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for a TDIU from December 19, 2005 as moot due to the grant of this benefit in September 2010. The case is remanded for referral of the increased ratings claims and TDIU prior to December 19, 2005 to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurological disorder affecting the lower extremities, and right hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for a neck disability and bilateral ankle disability, including the need for additional medical opinions.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including providing the Veteran with corrected VCAA notice and an orthopedic examination of his service-connected right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The examiner should also provide an opinion regarding whether due solely to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, he is precluded from all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, right knee chondromalacia patella prior to July 15, 2002, a rating in excess of zero percent for right knee chondromalacia patella prior to March 1, 2007, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for status post right knee arthroplasty with chondromalacia patella and degenerative joint disease prior to April 1, 2010. The effective dates were not established.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and conducting a VA examination.