Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical and thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to injuries sustained during his military service.

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

The Veteran seeks service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disorders, which he attributes to an in-service injury. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder but denied the claim of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for lumbar spine disability.

The Board found that the appellant did not meet the criteria for TDIU prior to January 1, 2006 as he was gainfully employed during this period. Therefore, an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board found that the December 1975 rating decision granting service connection and assigning a 0 percent rating for a low back disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder was not adjudicated at that time, as no formal or informal claim had been submitted. No effective date earlier than May 29, 1998, was granted for the lumbar spine rating.

The Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar sprain disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since September 22, 2009. Prior to this date, the conditions were not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle, lower back, right knee, left heel spur, and cervical spine disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, cervical spine disorder, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for increased rating of lumbar spine disability was granted to a 40% level.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a back injury, degenerative joint disease and strain of the cervical and thoracic segments of the spine. The claim of secondary service connection for chronic pain disorder is REMANDED.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for all issues except possibly service connection on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and cervical spine disorder have been denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claims, and there is no medical evidence showing a direct relationship between these disorders and military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current cervical spine disorder related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. For the right hip disorder, while it is secondary to a service-connected disability (PTSD), there is no direct evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for cervical strain is pending.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine or cervical spine, as the current conditions are not shown to be etiologically related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, neck disability, and back disability. The denial was based on the lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active service and denied all of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis with myelopathy, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to an in-service injury. The issue of TDIU remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.