Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for service connection for cerebral concussion with headaches, a residual SFW scar on the scalp, and cervical arthritis were not well-grounded. The VA found no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service discharge.

The VA determined that the appellant's nonservice-connected disabilities do not combine to render him unemployable, and thus denied his claim for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a neck injury, including a fracture and scars. The evidence submitted since 1986 did not provide new or material information to support the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his service-connected left elbow disability and thus denied the claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted, including medical records from his private physician and VA examinations. The claims are well-grounded as there is sufficient evidence to suggest a link between the veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple joint pain, including cervical spine and right knee pain, is attributable to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, cervical spine arthritis, and thoracic spine arthritis were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain due to lack of new and material evidence, maintaining the previous denial.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (PTSD) is pending.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of sense of smell, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder were not well-grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded, and thus denied.

The veteran's disabilities, including post-traumatic encephalopathy with major motor seizures and schizophrenia, prevent him from achieving a vocational goal due to his history of chronic unemployment.

The Board denied service connection for a gynecological disorder (cervical dysplasia) and gastrointestinal disorder. Service connection was granted for pronator teres syndrome of the major arm with an initial evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, but granted a compensable rating for postoperative residuals of a ganglion cyst in the right wrist.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is not well grounded.,For the period prior to March 29, 1997, his cervical spine disability was evaluated at 20 percent. From that date onwards, it has been rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) of the cervical spine, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has granted the appellant's request for an extension of time to file a substantive appeal on his claims for service connection for hypertension, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability.