Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, but the right knee disorder remains in a 'mixed' status due to conflicting opinions on its etiology. The claim is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for a skin disorder, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine with radiculopathy (claimed as peripheral neuropathy), and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The VA will provide an orthopedic examination and dermatological examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the adequacy of the October 2007 VA examination report and to obtain an opinion on whether his upper and lower back disorder caused or aggravated his cervical spine disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability and bilateral shoulder disability, both secondary to his service-connected low back strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, neck disability, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and right knee disability. The appeal is considered final due to the denial in March 1992.

The Veteran's residual scar from removal of lipoma from his right upper back is rated as 20 percent disabling, effective date not specified. The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder (claimed as an upper back disability).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia was denied as there is no underlying disability for which service connection may be granted. The claims for higher initial evaluations of cervical spine spondylosis, alopecia, ovarian disability, uterine fibroids removal, arthritis of the metatarsal joint of the little toe of the left foot, and skin deformities of the left foot are remanded for additional examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability and migraine cephalgia, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her active duty service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's leukocystoclastic vasculitis has not been shown to warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy and neck disorder. The presumption of service connection based on herbicide exposure will also be considered.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability and benign prostate hypertrophy, including consideration of presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's effective date for his increased disability rating of 30 percent for generalized dermatitis has been advanced from September 13, 2006 to the date of claim.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, cervical degenerative disk disease, and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with osteoarthritis were all rated at the lowest possible initial evaluation of 10 percent for each condition. The evaluations have not changed since their initial assignment in October 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his low back disability, and ensuring all evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, osteoarthritis of the left acromioclavicular joint, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed neck and left hand disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they related to any in-service injury. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity for either condition.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disability due to service or any other event, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA spine and neurological examination.