Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, did not develop during service or as a result of any incident in service. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for DJD of the cervical and lumbar spine, and also denied his claim for a rating greater than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain. The evidence submitted was found not new and material.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including examinations and consideration of applicable court precedents and regulations.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the appellant's low back and cervical spine disabilities, but denied an increase in rating for his right hand carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for additional searches of the veteran's service records and consideration of new evidence. The claims for service connection are being considered on their merits, with some issues granted and others not.

The Board has granted service-connection for a cervical spine disability including degenerative disc disease and coronary artery disease, with a 10 percent rating. Service connection was not granted for the right hip disability.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for cervical myofascial pain syndrome and a 20 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, both previously rated as 10 percent. The TDIU issue is not before the Board.

The Board denied compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for cervical spine and right hip disabilities due to VA surgical treatment, finding no causal connection between the treatments and additional disability.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of the veteran's lumbosacral strain to 20 percent, effective from June 1998. The cervical spine condition remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is unrelated to his service-connected gunshot wound. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the neck was also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a genitourinary or bladder disability, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, is not well grounded. The claim for increased rating of cervical spine disability has also been denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound is denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine injury residuals, including degenerative changes, were incurred in active service and granted service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder. The appeals were not well-grounded as there is no credible medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of service.

The Board denied initial compensable ratings for service-connected lumbar strain and cervical spine with herniated nucleus pulposus, finding that the conditions did not warrant higher than noncompensable ratings based on symptoms during the period of time contemporaneous to the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension on account of needing aid and attendance or being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either condition based on his multiple disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic low lumbar strain syndrome and cervical spine sprain syndrome, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for compression fracture of T5, 6, and 7. The veteran failed to provide competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his period of active military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's low and upper back disorders are not well grounded, as there is no evidence demonstrating a direct link to her service-connected bilateral postoperative residuals of arthroplasties with hammertoes and callosities.