Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for PTSD, cervical dysplasia and cervicitis, tubal collapse, and salpingitis due to sexual trauma during service are all granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss. The criteria for a higher rating were not met based on the current evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current cervical spine (neck) disorder or residuals of a head injury, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that herniated and bulging discs of the cervical and lumbar spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they due to a service-connected disability.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 80 percent, including her service-connected cervical spine degenerative joint disease (30%), labyrinthitis (30%), and right ear hearing loss (10%). The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and emphysema. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and cervical spine disability, including obtaining medical opinions and potentially obtaining treatment records.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a compensable evaluation for duodenal ulcer.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as well as his hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee condition, bilateral wrist condition, and a back condition.,There is no evidence linking the appellant's current conditions to her military service.

The Board determined that the appellant was not entitled to any of the proceeds of the veteran's NSLI policy, and that the appellee was entitled to the full amount of the proceeds.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence. The VA is asked to clarify whether the veteran has separate radiculopathy symptoms and if so, differentiate them from fibromyalgia syndrome. Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine based on new and material evidence. The right knee disorder and back injury claims are being remanded to the RO for further development, while the left ankle sprain rating remains unchanged.

The VA has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected cervical strain, effective from September 26, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and low back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or other factors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities have not been met due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not incur additional disability in his neck or cervical spine as a result of coronary artery bypass surgery performed at a VA Medical Center in May 1997.

The veteran asserts service connection for residuals, status post cervical spondylectomy and fusion. The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to his service-connected spondylitis with arthralgia of the lumbar spine, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of chip fracture, left hip, with traumatic arthritis was denied. His claims for service connection were also denied, but he was granted new and material evidence to reopen the claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left radiculopathy, status post laminectomy at L5, secondary to his service-connected left hip disorder.