Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a Travel Board hearing and for further development of evidence, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits for a cervical spine disability pursuant to the criteria of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 is being remanded due to incomplete development and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine did not have its onset during active service or within one year thereafter and did not result from a disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spondylosis with multilevel osteoarthritis and discogenic disease, which he claims was caused by a neck injury during military service. The case has been remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. However, the case is being remanded due to procedural issues related to notification under the VCAA.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and cervical spine disorders, finding no evidence of a chronic disability related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for cervical spine arthritis and denied his claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and entitlement to a TDIU rating.

The Board found no evidence of a neck injury or disability during service and concluded that the current cervical spine disorder is not related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 17, 1999 for a Total Disability Evaluation for Compensation Purposes Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The veteran's claim was pending since July 12, 1998 and the RO initially granted TDIU retroactively to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and possibly scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities are pending.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes, as they are not severe enough to prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current disabilities and his military service or any service-connected condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to compliance issues with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and a need for additional development, including scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for pelvic pain due to ovarian fibroids, low back disorder, cervical strain and bilateral knee disorders, as well as the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches. The case is remanded for further development regarding Graves' disease with orbitopathy.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and granted an increased evaluation to 50% for PTSD, effective from January 2004.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date were denied. The appeal of the November 1983 rating decision regarding service connection for allergies, asthma, and arthritis was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that it was decided on the merits without involving any new evidence or a presumption.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The reasons given were that the veteran repeatedly failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations and MRI appointments without providing good cause.

The Board found that the veteran's neck disability, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and cervical syringomyelia, was not related to his active service.