Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to the RO due to the need for further examination and development of evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to the need for updated medical records and an orthopedic/neurological examination to assess his current level of disability.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and spondylosis of cervical spine with degenerative disc disease, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of psychiatric disability, and a right foot lesion was determined to be secondary to service-connected conditions.

The veteran claims service connection for a cervical spine disorder, which he alleges was caused by a slip and fall during military service. The VA is remanding the case to gather additional evidence including worker's compensation records and medical opinions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected tension headaches with cervical pain and whether he experiences prostrating attacks.

The Board denied secondary service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings have been denied. The left ankle injury with traumatic arthritis remains at a 10% rating, while the right shoulder strain is rated at 10%. Other conditions remain at their current assigned ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee, cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have cervical spine arthritis/spondylosis that is related to his military service.

The veteran's cervical spine disability, rated as 10 percent disabling, was found to be productive of mild limitation of motion without additional functional loss. The current rating is appropriate for the period from March 9, 1998, through September 26, 2004.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disorder in service or within one year thereafter, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for low back, cervical spine, and right shoulder disorders. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board found that the reduction in rating from 100% to a combined rating of 80% was proper, and thus denied restoration of the original 100% rating. Special monthly compensation for the period from January 1, 2003 to April 12, 2003 was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine had its origins during service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine problems, including arthritis and possible thoracic outlet syndrome, were incurred in service or are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical and thoracic strain with spurring of the thoracic spine, currently rated at 10 percent, and lumbosacral strain, currently rated at 20 percent. The VA found that the veteran's conditions were not service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for depression, a heart murmur, and a left elbow disability. The appeals for headaches, ulcers, neck disability, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were also denied.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.