Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as secondary service connection for numbness in his lower and upper extremities. The remand requires additional development to consider the Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence regarding his symptoms.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection claims and increased evaluation requests for various disabilities. The Veteran's appeal remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine arthritis, as well as his right and left knee strains, are at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical strain, residuals of a head injury, and bilateral hearing loss due to procedural deficiencies. The Veteran's tinnitus and degenerative joint disease of the knees have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development, including a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records and must be scheduled for further VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral upper and lower extremities peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.,Service connection was also denied for a cervical spine disability due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cervical spine disability and right knee arthritis due to incomplete development. The VA providers are requested to provide addendum opinions on the etiology of these disabilities, considering all pertinent medical and lay evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his service-connected left shoulder injury, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity were denied. The current ratings are 20 percent for each condition.

The reduction from a 60% to a 20% disability rating for service-connected degenerative changes of the midthoracic spine with compression fracture at T8 and 9 with residual demonstrable deformity and myofascial pain syndrome of the cervical and thoracic spine is granted. The severance of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability, finding that his pre-existing condition did not undergo an increase in disability beyond its natural progression during active duty. The claims for secondary service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as related to bilateral pes planus, and for PTSD and headache disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its remand directives and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including bilateral eye disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service disease or injury related to these conditions, and that any current disabilities were not otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, and the cause of death due to esophageal adenocarcinoma. The claim for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, finding that it was not proximately caused by his service-connected hip disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right plantar fasciitis and a neck disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected cervical strain, tension headaches, and left upper extremity neuropathy, and determining if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, sleep impairment disorder, or GERD are related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and neck disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression).

The Board has remanded the case due to VA's failure to obtain relevant private medical records from Obici Hospital and a Naval hospital. The Veteran is requested to provide permission for VA to seek these records.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right hip disabilities due to new evidence received since the July 2011 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for additional development.