Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the appellant's current psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, a cervical spine disability, and a low back disability. The case is being remanded to allow for further development of his low back disability claim.

The veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development of records. The issues include increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, as well as a pension claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, a sleep disorder, hypertension, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with stenosis. The rating assigned was 40 percent for the lumbar spine condition.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete appellate status and the need for additional examinations. Issues related to increased rating, service connection, and individual unemployability are pending.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the appellant's low back disability was incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and skin disorder (claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure) are remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her cervical spine disability, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's cervical myositis was rated at 20 percent prior to September 26, 2003 and is now rated at 30 percent. The right elbow disorders are both rated at the maximum of 10 percent.

The Board granted service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the thoracic spine, loss of feeling in the fourth and fifth digits of the left hand, tingling of the arms and legs, and a stomach disorder (GERD). Service connection for PTSD was also granted.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his cervical strain, low back strain, migraine headaches, right hip disability, left hip disability, and left shoulder disability were all denied by the RO. The RO found that none of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical arthritis, left knee disability (arthritis), short-term memory loss, and rashes and sores (folliculitis).,There is no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a supplemental statement from the same VA physician to resolve the increased rating and secondary service connection issues on appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's left hand symptoms are more likely associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability and/or left cubital tunnel syndrome, thus denying the claim for separate service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his cervical spine and groin conditions. The effective date of the TDIU is set at January 7, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's current arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, cervical spine, and low back disabilities were not supported by evidence sufficient to establish a nexus with his military service. The right hip disability claim was denied as well due to failure to report for an examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service, and therefore denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his in-service cervical spine injury, and service connection for residuals of a low back injury is granted.

The Board finds that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of a head injury. The VA medical records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the veteran's current cervical spine disability and his military service.