Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the original grant of service connection for the Veteran's disabilities was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus restoring the previously severed benefits.

The Veteran's DDD and DJD of the cervical spine are currently rated at 10 percent disabling, effective March 11, 2004. The appeal for higher initial ratings is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands, and bilateral pes planus as there is no competent evidence demonstrating current disabilities. The Veteran's pes planus was found to have preexisted service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and residuals of heat injury, finding no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's tension headaches occur at least once per month and last three to six hours, warranting a 30% disability rating. The cervical spine condition remains rated as 10%. Further development is needed for the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since November 3, 2006. This rating is appropriate as the evidence shows forward flexion limited to 24 degrees.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to his active duty service. The claim will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of flexion to 15 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the cervical or thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that service connection was established but not granted for certain conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and thoracic spine degenerative joint disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of cervical strain, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and arthralgia of the left shoulder are considered to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis and cervical spine disability have been rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, with no further increase in rating being granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's pre-existing spine disorder was aggravated by service, resulting in a current disability. The VA has granted service connection for the Veteran's spinal disorders.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his headaches associated with the cervical spine disability, degenerative arthritis of both knees, are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and neck disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations to evaluate his cervical spine disability and knee disabilities.