Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2002

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of residuals of a fracture of the right little finger was denied, and his claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine was also denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, with a 10 percent rating assigned for each condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and cervical spine condition, but granted higher ratings for instability of the left knee disability and tinea pedis. Service connection was not established for hemorrhoids.

The Board granted an increased rating for the service-connected lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The veteran's combined disability evaluation is 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis and muscle contraction headaches. The claim for increased evaluation of the lumbar spine disorder is pending.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may arthritis of the cervical spine be presumed to have been incurred in active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine degeneration, osteoarthritis, and disc disease due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's depression is rated at 50 percent, and his low back disorder is rated at 10 percent. The right foot condition and cervical spine injury are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected cervical dysplasia, cervicitis, and vaginitis contributed to her need for a hysterectomy in 1992. Therefore, secondary service connection is granted.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for her right knee condition and service connection for bladder infection, urinary incontinence, and cervical spine injury were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation or service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back, right leg (to include right knee), cervical spine, and psychiatric disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his low back pain and service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and a rating of 20 percent for residuals, status post avulsion fracture of sinus process C-7. The veteran's symptoms are currently rated as moderate limited motion.

The Board has granted increased ratings for back strain and cervical spine arthritis, as well as service connection for these conditions. The appellant's claims for pes planus and plantar warts were reopened and granted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's chronic disabilities, including a psychiatric condition, cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, eye disorder, and headaches, meet the schedular requirements for non-service-connected pension purposes. The Board finds that he is permanently and totally disabled for VA pension purposes.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. However, it determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current cervical spine disorder to his period of active duty service. The claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a hearing before a member of the Board.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss and found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for cervical spine arthritis with cervical disc herniation and lumbar degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, granting service connection for this condition.