Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has found service connection for the claimed conditions, with resolution of doubt in favor of the Veteran. The criteria for secondary service connection are met.

The Veteran's neck, low back, and bilateral hip disabilities are being remanded for further development to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his lumbar and cervical spine DDD, as well as left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, was granted. The current ratings are 40% for the lumbar spine DDD, 30% for the cervical spine DDD, and 10% for the left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including back and nerve pain conditions. The RO is directed to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his spine and nerve pain conditions. Additional treatment records are also needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine dystonia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the lower back and tailbone, left shoulder, or neck. The VA examiner found no chronic symptoms related to these conditions during service and did not find any current diagnoses for them. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine or lower back disorder that began in service and is causally related to active service, thus denying the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity are both currently rated at 20 percent, which also do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's tinea versicolor is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rate of payment in excess of 50 percent for educational assistance under Chapter 33, Title 38, United States Code was denied as she did not meet the criteria for discharge from active duty due to service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, a left thigh disorder, and a chronic headache disorder. The evidence submitted since the previous decisions supports these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current disabilities, including closed head injury, orbital and maxillary fractures, cervical vertebra fracture, thoracic spine fracture, left distal fibula fracture, left foot injuries, upper arm fracture, eye visual field impairment, hearing loss, rib fractures, pneumothorax, scapula fracture, dysphagia, sinus disease, and headaches, are not causally or etiologically related to his active service or a finding that the disabilities are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative left shoulder disability and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, status post fusion are related to his active duty service. The respiratory disability is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private dental treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disorder and his secondary service connection claim for a dental disorder are being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative discogenic disease of L4-5, L5-S1 and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection or higher ratings for most conditions, with some exceptions.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, dizziness, anxiety, high cholesterol, and a cervical spine disability. The claim for hypertension was not reopened as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has received notification from the Appellant that he wishes to withdraw his claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow, a right forearm injury, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar and cervical strain, claimed as degenerative arthritis of the spine, did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.,The Veteran's umbilical hernia did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.