Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and additional VCAA notice. The RO will schedule the veteran for examinations of his spine and feet to assess current symptoms and functional loss.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of higher ratings based on the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current diagnoses to his military service and denied all three claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis and cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of exposure to asbestos in service and insufficient medical evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for cervical dysplasia, molluscum contagiosum, residuals of excision of pilar cyst from the scalp, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not show that any condition required continuous treatment or was so severe as to prevent control by treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for knee arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, and low back arthritis at L4-S1. Service connection was denied for left ankle arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's joint and muscle pain affecting the back and neck, as well as his degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct link to active duty.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of award for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as there was no prior submission of a formal or informal claim before August 16, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's seizure disorder and abdominal pain are not related to his military service or presumed exposure to herbicides. The right knee disorder is found to be aggravated by service, while the cervical spine disorder is not shown to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as a right shoulder disability, were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedules.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain and sinusitis, as well as his claim for an increased rating for postoperative calcific tendonitis of the left shoulder. The veteran was found to have thoracic outlet syndrome related to service but no current disability due to sinusitis. His left shoulder condition is currently rated 10%.

The veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, a cervical spine condition, and PTSD were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, headache disorder, and hearing loss. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current evaluations for his cervical spine and right ankle disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations or service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased evaluation for his right shoulder fracture with resection of distal clavicle, finding that there was no evidence of a current, chronic disability related to active service.