Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to September 26, 2008 did not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, including DDD and cervical spondylosis, is presumed to be due to service. His left shoulder arthritis is also presumed to be due to service. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is etiologically related to his service-connected low back disability. The claim for increased rating of the low back disability from July 21, 2004, to June 10, 2006, was granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis warranting a higher rating. The claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder remains pending as it was not adjudicated by the RO.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not rated higher than 10 percent prior to July 14, 2010 and not rated higher than 20 percent from July 14, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the relationship between his current left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip and neck disabilities, but granted a 10 percent rating for tinnitus and a 20 percent rating for lumbar spine disability. The initial compensable ratings were assigned for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected as they were not shown during his active duty service from 1963 to 1966, and there is no evidence of their onset or aggravation due to such service. The disorders are more likely related to the Veteran's National Guard service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and examinations, as well as any private treatment records from a chiropractor. The Veteran is entitled to initial compensable ratings for his service-connected left shoulder strain with history of compression arthralgia and hemorrhoids.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities to the RO for further proceedings consistent with a Court decision. The case is now being returned to the Board for final adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multi-joint arthritis involving multiple joints, including right knee, right ankle, right hip, left hip, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine is related to service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and an inadequate VA examination report.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence linking the Veteran's current low back, neck, or right eye disabilities to her active service. As a result, she cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The claim was remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding the onset of the condition and whether it is related to his service-connected lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease, and facet syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracic spine disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has vacated the October 8, 2010 decision denying compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability claimed to be due to VA medical treatment because the evidence was not considered at the time of the decision.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for Eustachian tube dysfunction, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are already service-connected with respective ratings.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for a cervical spine disorder and denied the Veteran's claim. For his thoracolumbar spine disability, the Board determined that an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent was not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the exception of the claim for loss of use of the left arm. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 60 percent disabling, while the cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of residuals of a head and neck injury, headache disorder, or vision disorder that is related to military service. The Veteran's currently diagnosed conditions are considered to be unrelated to his active duty.