Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2003

The Board has awarded service connection for a cervical spine disability. The remaining service connection issues will be remanded to the RO for further development, including consideration of additional evidence and clarification of representation.

The Board found that the veteran's current cervical spine disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations were denied. The Board found no current residuals of heat exhaustion, but granted a 10% rating for cervical spine spondylosis beginning September 23, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed back and neck disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine is not related to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, finding that it was proximately due to or the result of his service-connected low back conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that his cervical spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis, was incurred in service. The VA has provided a de novo review of the record.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability warranted a rating of 60 percent, effective from July 1991. The appeal was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial rating greater than 60 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and low back pain with degenerative joint disease have all been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and remanded the issue of rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a cervical spine disorder, shoulder condition, and back disorder. The evidence did not demonstrate that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his ankylosing spondylosis of the lumbar, cervical, and thoracic spine as well as for a dilated aortic root. The veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their current manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and notification in accordance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, including herniated cervical discs and arthritis, is now before the RO.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of evidence, including obtaining post-service medical records and a specialist's opinion on the relationship between service-connected back injuries and current disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine injury residuals are rated at 40 percent effective July 25, 2002. His headaches remain at a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various joint and spine conditions, as well as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, are pending.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and a separate 40 percent rating for his cervical spine disability, both effective since November 1, 1988.