Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or during the applicable presumptive period.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and bilateral shoulder arthritis, but granted a 40% rating for chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his bilateral eye disability, which results in concentric contraction of visual fields to 5 degrees or less.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and cervical spine disorder, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for PTSD. The VA examinations indicated that any current neck or back disorders were not related to service.

The Board denied an extraschedular evaluation for the veteran's service-connected arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Board found no evidence of a medical nexus between the veteran's active military service and his post-service diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the feet and cervical spine, thus denying the claims for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to military service or any other relevant factor.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and granted increased ratings of 20 percent for both the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with sciatic neuropathy, and his residuals of a right medial malleolus fracture with internal fixation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, diagnosed as arthralgia. The cervical spine and right knee disabilities are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical spine and low back or bilateral leg disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty, and there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to any incident of service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, but denied service connection for low back, ulcer, right shoulder, cervical spine, and psychiatric disorders. A noncompensable evaluation was assigned for tinnitus prior to June 10, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current disorder of the cervical spine is the result of an inservice head injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis, effective from October 22, 1996.

The veteran's service-connected post-concussive syndrome, right rotator cuff tendinitis, status post fracture of the right ankle, cervical strain, and lumbar strain have been evaluated based on their respective symptoms and limitations. The appeals for increased evaluations are granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the initial denial of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and that the veteran did not submit a claim within one year of her discharge from service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities effective from November 24, 1987. The veteran's heart condition was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by active military service. Effective dates have been established for the lumbar and cervical spine conditions as well as a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for proceeds of Service Disabled Veterans' (RH) Insurance as the veteran did not file an application prior to his death and was never found to be mentally incompetent.

The Board found no evidence of a spine disability in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that the current degenerative arthritis is not related to the veteran's neck injury during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected cervical spine discogenic disease is currently manifested by radiologic evidence of degenerative disc disease at C5-6 and C6-7, complaints of occasional numbness, and no more than moderate limitation of cervical motion. The clinical evidence does not show any significant motor or sensory deficits in the upper extremities. Severe intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine has not been demonstrated at any time since service connection was granted. Therefore, an evaluation of 20 percent, but no more, is warranted for cervical spine discogenic disease.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date for TDIU were denied. The initial disability evaluation for cervical disc disease with headaches was upheld.