Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, skin cancer secondary to Agent Orange exposure in service, and cancer of the larynx and tongue secondary to Agent Orange exposure in service. The claim for increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, hernia disability, and hypertension or heart disability. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,Specifically, the Board noted that the veteran's SMRs did not show any treatment for or reference to these conditions during his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the left wrist and a cervical strain were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence of such conditions during his period of active duty. The Board also denied reopening of the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and pes planus of the left foot with corrected congenital clubfoot are not supported by the evidence presented.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and granted service connection for chronic herniated lumbar disc. The effective dates for the service connection were set at January 20, 1994, for multiple sclerosis and December 15, 1997, for the increased rating of the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for disability of the cervical spine as a result of pursuing vocational rehabilitation, finding that neither issue had legal merit.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating, finding no competent medical evidence linking her current arthritis to military service or a pre-existing condition.

The veteran's disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right elbow and cervical spine, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service connected pension purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders, resulting in a denial.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims, finding no evidence of a preexisting cervical spine injury and concluding that any current disability is not service-connected.

The veteran's low back disorder is currently rated at 40% due to severe but not pronounced impairment.,For the period of July 1, 1993 to December 12, 1996, the veteran's cervical spine disorder was evaluated as 20%, and since then it has been rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his claimed conditions and exposure history. The effective date for the hearing loss disability remains unchanged.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder, which is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The veteran's claims for compensation, service connection, specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, automobile and adaptive equipment, and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate have all been denied. The denial is due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and cervical spine disorders are not related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluation of GERD and duodenal ulcer disease was denied. The issue regarding the reopening of a neck injury with headaches claim is also denied, as new evidence does not establish that his current condition is related to service. Service connection for PTSD has been granted but an earlier effective date remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. Service connection has been established for neck disability, back disability, bilateral knee and leg disabilities, pes planus, and hearing loss. Increased ratings have been assigned for hypertension and skin disorders.

The Board found that the RO's October 1991 rating decision did not commit clear and unmistakable error in establishing service connection for right superficial parotidectomy residuals. The veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for hypothyroidism, bilateral hearing loss disability, chronic left shoulder disability, chronic neck disability, multiple joint arthritic disability, and the loss of the sense of smell were denied.