Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine with herniated discs at C5-6-7 and bulging discs at T8-9 and L3-4-5 did not originate in service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection has been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the veteran for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's current spinal conditions are related to his military service, including whether any pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection of a cervical spine disability and an increased evaluation for his thoracolumbar back strain are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected gunshot and shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and pelvis, as well as his claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine. The residuals of the gunshot and shell fragment wounds are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen a final disallowed claim for service connection for dysthymic and anxiety disorders. The claims for low back disorder, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen final disallowed claims for migraine headaches are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that service connection for a personality disorder is not warranted as it is not considered to be a disease or injury eligible for VA compensation purposes. The claims for irritable bowel syndrome and residuals of cervical spine injury are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for left shoulder disability, but remanded the issue of carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran's current left shoulder disorder is likely related to his service-connected right arm amputation.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, which is currently rated at 20 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence provided.

The Board denied various claims, including service connection for several conditions and an increased rating for a burn disability. The veteran's appeals were not granted.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and PTSD have been denied. The RO has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss or an increased evaluation for his cervical spine disability or PTSD.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected cervical spine DDD, tinnitus, and low back DDD with arthritic changes. The VA found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule. Service connection was also denied for arthritis of various joints and GERD.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of increased rating and service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to the veteran's claimed concussion or cervical spine injury, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, neck, low back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back and neck disabilities did not begin during service or are otherwise related to his military service, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tendonitis of the left knee and depression have not been reopened, while her claim for a cervical spine condition has been reopened. The Board is unable to determine if she currently suffers from tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and returning it to the Board if necessary.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disorders, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and left hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected low back strain.