Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing VA medical records and for obtaining statements from witnesses who can provide information about the veteran's cervical spine symptoms.

The veteran's initial ratings for residuals of a cervical spine injury and somatoform disorder have been granted, with the highest possible rating (60%) assigned for both conditions.

The appellant's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability was granted from February 6, 1995 to July 15, 1997.,His hypertension with renal insufficiency received an increased evaluation to 80 percent disabling effective from February 6, 1995.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for various conditions. The case is now remanded for additional evidence collection.

The Board has determined that further VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any cervical disorder found to be present, including whether such disorder may be caused by the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of L5-S1.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding the veteran's cervical spine condition. The case is now remanded for additional examination and review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VCAA notice and development of medical records.

The veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his nerve disorder (including peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome), were not found to be related to service or exposure to chemical herbicides. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has ordered further development due to incomplete evidence. The case is now being sent back for additional development, including obtaining hospital summaries and clinical records from the veteran's treatment at St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and is remanding the case back to the RO for additional consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for claimed disability of hips, knees, ankles and cervical spine due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back and cervical spine disorder, finding that any current disorders did not begin in or are related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim with additional evidence.

The Board found that the veteran did not timely appeal the November 1991 rating decision denying service connection for a lower back disability, cervical warts, and urinary tract infections. The claims were denied as final due to lack of timely appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine and low back conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder. The veteran's claim is granted in this regard, but further development is required to address his claims for increased evaluations for low back strain and headaches.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected cervical spine disability is being remanded due to inadequate notification of new rating criteria and the need for additional examination.

The veteran's service connection claim for a back disorder is granted, and his bilateral hearing loss disability remains at noncompensable level.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder injury with associated neck disability. The issue of secondary service connection for a gastric ulcer remains pending and requires additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is related to an injury sustained during active service, granting his claim for service connection.