Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2007

The veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity disabilities. The VA examinations showed limited motion in both the cervical and lumbar spines, but no evidence of muscle spasms or abnormal spinal contours resulting in an abnormal gait.

The veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to clarify the etiology of his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his service, and therefore, service connection is denied for head injury residuals, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder.

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

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an extension of her delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 1606, finding that she did not provide timely documentation and was not prevented from attending school by a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability was granted, and he is now receiving a 30% evaluation for his cervical spine disability.

The veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis have been rated at 60 percent since July 10, 2004. The lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis have been rated at 40 percent since October 4, 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected right leg and lumbar spine disabilities. The claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability is also granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, varicose veins, and bilateral internal derangement of the knees. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The veteran withdrew her appeals for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation.,She was denied service connection for various conditions including left shoulder, knee, cervical spine, lumbar spine, left ankle, left hip, and generalized arthritis. She also had a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a fractured right clavicle for the period prior to February 23, 2000, but not from April 1, 2001, forward. Her scar evaluations were also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the neck, including for C4 through T1, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine injury and headaches are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine their likely etiology.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical strain does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his range of motion and combined range of motion are sufficient to meet this evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is being remanded due to incomplete records and a need for a more contemporaneous VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition, including impingement and history of elastofibroma, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The cervical spine disc herniation was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic left shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and bilateral foot disorders were denied as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to November 30, 2001 for the grant of service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.