Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2002

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease/arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine have been granted with evaluations of 20 percent and noncompensable, respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria warranting higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board finds that the veteran's cervical spine disability is related to her military service and grants service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The maxillary sinusitis with headaches are rated at 30 percent, and the left knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, ventral hernia, pes planus, inguinal hernia, and cervical spine disorder. The reasons were that there was no evidence of these conditions being incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including diplopia, hernia repair, pterygium, blepharitis and conjunctivitis with trichiasis, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, except for a right shoulder disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spines, finding that the evidence did not warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for a skin condition and cervical spine disability, finding that the veteran's conditions were not related to his military service or exposure to radiation.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a cervical spine disability during service or for many years thereafter, and the medical evidence does not link any current cervical spine disability to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neck disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease causing spinal stenosis at C5-6 and C6-7, and herniated nucleus pulposus at C5-6, was incurred in active service. The Board found that it is at least as likely as not related to the veteran's head injury sustained during service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected atypical cervical strain, effective January 15, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spondylosis with spur formation, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disability to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and lower back disability, finding that there is no evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the veteran did not provide credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his coronary artery disease and hypertension to his active service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and residuals of a right ankle sprain. The veteran's complaints have not been confirmed by current medical findings.

The Board has granted higher ratings of 60 percent for the lumbosacral spine disability and 20 percent rating for the cervical spine disability, both effective June 27, 2002.

The veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected neck and right shoulder disabilities. The RO has not considered the neurologic component of these disabilities in adjudicating the current rating assignments, so further development, including an examination to clarify all symptoms and determine which are related to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, is warranted.

Service connection was not granted for diverticulosis and residuals of colon polypectomy or degenerative arthritis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine as they were not shown to have been incurred in service. Service connection was also denied for left ulnar neuritis and hemorrhoids.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of injuries to the cervical spine, back, and left leg due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to post-service injury.