Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2002

The Board finds that the veteran's cervical spine disability, including his fusion at C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels, is likely due to a fall in service. By extending the benefit of doubt to the veteran, the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence linking the condition to service or any other presumptive basis.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to be related to service or the exposure basis provided. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected post-traumatic degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disorder and an initial compensable rating for defective hearing in the left ear. The veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right hand and wrist, as well as a neck disability, both secondary to his service-connected residuals of an injury of the right hand and wrist. The RO had previously granted service connection for these disabilities but did not consider them on a secondary basis.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of a cervical spine fracture and status post left scapula fracture with impingement syndrome and limitation of motion, assigning 40 percent evaluations effective July 13, 1993.

The Board finds that the veteran incurred or aggravated degenerative changes of the cervical spine in service and granted service connection for this condition. The veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, so service connection is denied. For low back pain with compression fracture, L3, the evaluation was increased to 20 percent prior to October 15, 2001.

The veteran's service-connected ulcerative colitis and cervical spine condition are both rated at 10 percent, with no other issues addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for his service-connected DJD of both AC joints and lumbar, cervical, and thoracic spine. The RO assigned separate ratings for these conditions.

The Board finds that the appellant's current cervical spine disability is attributable to his period of military service, and therefore grants service connection for the residuals of a cervical spine injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine or degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder that was incurred in service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability warrants a 60 percent evaluation, as it is manifested by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome with persistent symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a spinal condition and a left arm condition, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition worsening during service or any direct link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, cervical spine disability, headaches, and ganglion cyst of the wrist. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is related to the March 1991 VA treatment, but his lumbar spine disability is not. The veteran is granted benefits for the cervical spine issue and denied for the lumbar spine issue.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and granted a 30 percent rating for cervical spine injury with degenerative changes. The initial 30 percent evaluation assigned for PTSD prior to July 22, 1999 was upheld, but the veteran is now rated at 50 percent from that date onwards.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to July 22, 1999. The claim for a schedular rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD from July 22, 1999 was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, residuals of head injury with recurrent headaches, residuals of cervical spine and thoracic spine injuries, and gastrointestinal disorder. The veteran did not have a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to July 22, 1999. The claim for a schedular rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD from July 22, 1999 was also denied.