Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's physical disabilities, including chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disease of the cervical spine, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes due to their combined effect on his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, including spinal issues, psychiatric disorders, and musculoskeletal problems. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records from the veteran's reserve duty period.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar and cervical spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, but denied service connection for a chronic lumbosacral spine disability. The veteran is also awarded an initial 10% rating for his hemorrhoids.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including addressing secondary service connection claims and adjudicating a claim of CUE in an August 1983 rating decision.

The veteran's osteoarthritis of the cervical spine from C4 to C7 is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for numbness of both feet and cervical cervicalgia with left-sided C7-8 radiculopathy, as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for the required period, and he was not a former prisoner of war. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain service medical records and VA treatment records, as well as to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as dental trigeminal neuralgia. The initial evaluation of sinusitis is also granted at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for ear, sinus, low back, neck, and depressive disorders are also being remanded.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's T12, L1, and L2 compression fracture residuals with traumatic arthritis and L5-S1 tenderness. The veteran's chronic cervical spine disability was granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a jaw condition and cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no clear and convincing evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the cervical spine were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical and thoracic spine disorders are not shown to have been present in service or for many years thereafter, and thus cannot be granted service connection.