Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the extent of his service-connected conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, with cervical node metastases and cervical strain with radiation to the left upper extremity did not develop as a result of his military service or exposure to Agent Orange. As such, these conditions are denied.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right ankle sprain and cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include right below the knee amputation associated with hypertension with atrial fibrillation and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a cervical spine disorder resulting from disease or injury sustained or aggravated during any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA with the Army National Guard, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a verified stressor, and the VA examiner found that he does not have PTSD.,Prior to December 20, 2006, the veteran's cervical strain did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. As of December 20, 2006, his cervical strain met the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation.,The veteran's migraine headaches were found to not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,The veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety was also found to not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of osteoarthritis in multiple joints, including cervical spine, right knee, bilateral feet, hips, ankles, elbows, or hands.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including providing the veteran with VCAA notice and obtaining VA examinations. The claims for increased rating, service connection reopening, and secondary service connection will be reconsidered after these actions.

The veteran's minor children are receiving additional VA compensation for his service-connected disabilities. The veteran is not reasonably discharging his responsibility to support his minor children, and a general apportionment of the veteran's VA disability compensation in the amount of the additional disability compensation he receives for his minor children from November 29, 2002 is granted.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for lumbosacral strain due to a compression fracture at D12-L1, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical and lumbar disabilities are service-connected, with no presumption or secondary connection involved.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability with right arm atrophy and right knee disability do not meet the criteria for service connection or a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected herniated disc of the cervical spine is currently rated as zero percent disabling. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct a VA examination to determine if her disability should be rated higher.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left shoulder arthritis or DJD of the cervical spine, and obesity, allergic rhinitis, or hemorrhoids. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for various disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability due to new and material evidence submitted, but it remains denied as there is no clear indication that the current neck disability was caused by or aggravated by hidradenitis.