Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current cervical spine disability to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's cervical fusion with radiculopathy and degenerative spondylosis does not warrant an evaluation higher than 20 percent, as there is no evidence of severe limitation of motion or intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of injury to the cervical spine, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to warrant reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability. The issue is now on its merits.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for spondylosis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating, finding that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The issue of an increased rating for lumbar stenosis with bulging disc is remanded due to additional evidence received since the June 2002 Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for arthritis of the right wrist and determined that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen claims for service connection for arthritis of the right foot, a low back disability, and a cervical spine disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and is requesting additional evidence from the veteran's health care providers. The case will be remanded for a VA examination to determine if the veteran currently has a cervical spine disability with headaches, and whether it is related to her period of active service.

The veteran's permanent disabilities, including WPW syndrome, hypertension, and migraine headaches, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability, finding that no claim was filed prior to April 27, 2000.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a neck disability. The claim will be remanded to allow for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected cervical spine disability. The RO has not considered the revised rating criteria and the veteran's claims folder was not available to the examiner at a previous examination. Therefore, the case is being remanded for further development.

The veteran's application for RH insurance was not received within two years of the August 1997 notice that he had been granted service connection for spine disabilities at compensable evaluations, and thus did not meet the eligibility requirements.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for residuals of a testicle injury, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, bilateral pes cavus and bilateral ankle disability.

The veteran's initial and increased evaluations for cervical spine disability from noncompensable to 20 percent effective in June 2002, and lumbosacral spine disability from 10 to 20 percent effective in June 2002 have been granted.