Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is service-connected as it was incurred during active duty for training.

The Board has reopened the appellant's service connection claim for the cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted since the December 2000 decision. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially or materially to the cause of the veteran's death.

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 has remanded the veteran's claims for a cervical spine disability and costochondritis due to incomplete medical records, lack of VA examination, and need for VCAA compliance.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a cervical spine disability due to disease or injury in service. The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded as the stressor events are not corroborated.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the thoracic spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, feet, elbows, or wrists. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and ensuring that all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current cervical spine disability did not begin in service and is not related to any incident which occurred in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a gastrointestinal disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, foot condition claimed as plantar warts or tinea pedis, bilateral impaired vision, cervical spine disorder, or left arm disorder due to Agent Orange exposure in service.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his claim of service connection for a cervical spine injury sustained in April 1980, which he claims was not the result of willful misconduct. The case is being remanded due to VCAA notification issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claim for residuals of a right foot injury and status-post bilateral inguinal hernia repair. The veteran's left hand injury claim was previously denied in February 1954, and new evidence received since that time is not considered material to reopen the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine, osteoarthrosis (claimed as osteosynovial chromatosis), sickle cell like bone marrow disease due to radiation exposure, and trigeminal neuralgia due to radiation exposure. The Board found that these conditions did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any incident of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for cervical spondylosis and glaucoma, as well as his request for a temporary total rating based on convalescence. The claim for individual unemployability was deferred.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that the veteran's reported symptoms started during his period of active duty. The other claims were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected cervical spine condition and low back strain were denied by the RO, as both conditions are currently rated at their maximum allowable under current VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome, which would warrant higher ratings under the revised spine rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claims.