Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to a lack of competent evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic cervical spine disorder and increased evaluations for his low back syndrome and left clavicular fracture residuals, finding that there was no evidence of such disorders during active service or within one year of separation. The Board also found that the current disabilities did not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disability and seizure disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The back and neck disabilities are also not established as being related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not show that any of his claimed conditions began or worsened during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current cervical or lumbar disc disease, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for residuals of a right ankle injury, but denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine as there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, including her C6 radiculopathy and global C5-T1 motor loss, was aggravated by a fall she experienced during active duty training on June 2, 1994. As such, service connection is granted for these residuals.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and headaches due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural issues and to obtain additional medical records, including from Social Security Administration. The claims of service connection for a cervical spine condition and entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits are also pending.

The Board found that the veteran's current joint disorders, including cervical spine and lumbosacral spine conditions, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The medical evidence did not link any chronic back disorder to an incident in service. Service connection for defective vision was also denied.

The Board has determined that the avulsion injury of the right middle finger and cervical spine disorder are directly related to service, with consideration given to the veteran's inservice injuries. The Board finds in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected degenerative and osteoarthritic changes of the cervical spine, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux are being remanded due to a lack of adequate development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches as secondary to cervical spine dysfunction, an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left hip, and initial ratings higher than 10 percent for cervical spine dysfunction and low back pain/sciatica. The veteran's headaches were not found to be related to his service-connected condition, and there was no evidence linking his hip or back conditions directly to his service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis and disc disease at C6-7, cancer, tuberculosis, a neck disorder (cervical sprain/strain), paralysis and neurological problems, bilateral ankle pain, swollen and painful joints, dizziness, throat trouble, a nervous disorder, a rectal disorder, inability to perform certain motions, lacerations to the head, face, and neck, and numbness in the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for spondylolysis of the 5th lumbar vertebra and peripheral neuropathy as due to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for a lumbar spine disorder other than spondylolysis of the 5th lumbar vertebra is pending, with new evidence submitted to reopen it.

The Board granted service connection for chronic low back and left hip pain due to bilateral leg length discrepancy, assigning a 10 percent rating. The initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine was also granted at 10 percent.

The VA has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder, characterized as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, warrants an initial evaluation of 40 percent.

The veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted. The Board found that this condition began during active military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a skull defect and facial scars, do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder bursitis, cervical spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, and bilateral wrist, knee, and ankle disorders are not supported by competent evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or any other basis.