Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a cervical spine disorder as secondary to his right wrist laceration with median nerve irritation and tenosynovitis, and denied an increased rating for his right wrist disability. The veteran was assigned a 30 percent evaluation for his right wrist condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spondylosis is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals has not been scheduled, and he has not withdrawn his request. The case is being remanded to schedule the veteran for a hearing at the RO.

The veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating. The cervical and hip disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board found that the veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is not related to his active military service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current head, neck, and back disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of inservice injury or disease for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a cervical spine injury, concussion, and dental trauma are granted. The veteran was involved in an aircraft accident during service which resulted in dental trauma to teeth numbered 6, 7, 8, and 9, allowing him to receive VA outpatient dental treatment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease with mild lumbar stenosis at L4-5 and fibromyalgia from August 14, 2001 were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The issues of cervical spine disorder, prostate disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are now before the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, which represent complete grants of the benefits sought on appeal.

The veteran's service-connected C-7 cervical spine root compression has been rated at 30 percent since the effective date of the decision, which is not specified. The condition more nearly approximates severe limitation of motion of the cervical spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, dizziness and fainting spells, pain in joints, leg cramps, anxiety and stress, and shortness of breath, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The decision is based on a finding that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board has determined that a rating of 20 percent for degenerative changes of the cervical spine is warranted since January 4, 2007.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left leg disabilities are not related to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has restored service connection for low back disability. The veteran's cervical spine and left arm disabilities are being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete service medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current lumbar or cervical spine disorder is related to disease or injury shown in his service records.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective October 6, 1991. The right thumb strain and residuals of left thumb sprain are both rated as 10 percent.