Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD or chloracne.

The Veteran's skin disease, including psoriasis and a benign tumor or tumors, was not found to be related to service-connected right below-the-knee amputation. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vascular disease (exclusive of peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity), arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and kidney failure were all determined to be unrelated to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability as the result of disease or injury that occurred during his active military service.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were reduced due to incarceration for a felony, and the Board found this reduction proper. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left foot disorder are addressed below.

The Veteran's disability rating for cervical spine disability was restored from 10% to 20%, effective April 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her low back strain, cervical spine strain, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain were denied. The current disability ratings of 20 percent for the low back strain and 10 percent each for the cervical spine, right ankle, and left ankle strains are maintained.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability and myelitis is denied. Additional development is needed to determine the extent of neurological impairment due to myelitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including left ear disability, residuals of jaw infection, cervical spine disability, low back disability, right hip disability, and left elbow disability, were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, the maximum available rating.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is rated at 30 percent based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any permanent residual disabilities resulting from injuries sustained during his National Guard service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for residuals of a left elbow injury, cervical spine strain, lumbar spine strain, or hyperextension injuries to both knees.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current DM.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of medical evidence.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a right shoulder disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbosacral spine, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness. The case is now pending with the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to obtain or retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The Board has granted vocational rehabilitation benefits for a law degree.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions. The case will be reviewed after an additional medical opinion is provided.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for internal derangement of the left knee, but his other conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical disc disease was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. The issue regarding migraine headaches prior to December 19, 2006 and from that date remains pending.