Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2006

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and cervical spine disorders, as they are not related to his in-service injuries or conditions.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain are being remanded. The initial rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied, as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under current diagnostic codes. The initial rating for left ankle sprain is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, as well as his claim for service connection for chest pain. The veteran was not granted any new ratings or benefits.

The veteran's traumatic arthritis of the 12th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae secondary to compression fracture at L1 is rated as 50 percent effective February 4, 2005.,The veteran's DJD of the cervical spine is rated as 20 percent effective February 4, 2005. The right shoulder disability is rated as 30 percent prior to February 4, 2005 and 20 percent from August 30, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's urinary problems, neck stiffness, pathology of the cervical and lumbar spine, and leg problems manifested by pain and weakness are not related to his inservice head injury.

The Board found that the veteran's current back, neck, and head injuries are not linked to service. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's current low back condition is not likely related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's case for additional development due to incomplete service records and new medical examinations.

The veteran's service connection claim for low back disability (lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylosis) has been granted, with a rating of 30 percent. The other claims have not been decided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service, and granted service connection for most of the disabilities listed. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and hypertensive heart disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service, were not manifest within the first post-service year, and were not incurred as a result of any established event, injury, or disease during active service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are related to his service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury (headaches) and a disability manifested by neck pain, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for VA compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a cervical spine disorder was denied as there was no negligence in the treatment provided by VA, and any additional disability is not caused by an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a cervical spine condition and an increased rating for a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence and procedural errors.

The Board has granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, allergic rhinitis, cervical and lumbar muscle strain, herpes labialis (cold sores), and failure to remove molars. The right shoulder and right and left knee disabilities are denied.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and providing an orthopedic examination to determine if his current condition is related to or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for the right clavicle with acromioclavicular separation and service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease with headaches, as well as a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran's current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's chronic cervical spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease, is related to his service and the Board has granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, but denied left ulna neuropathy and right elbow disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and a concussion, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.