Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The veteran was also denied a compensable rating for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an effective date prior to January 31, 2005, for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new evidence, including a potential opinion from Dr. K.S. regarding the veteran's back disability.

The Board has found new and material evidence to have been presented, allowing the veteran's claim for service connection of cervical spine disability to be reopened. However, after reviewing all available medical records and examining the veteran, the VA examiner concluded that there is insufficient evidence linking the veteran's current cervical spine disability to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and cervical disk disease, as both conditions are rated at their maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical strain, post-concussion migraine headaches, and right knee disability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board found no evidence of degenerative disc/joint disease, prostatitis, or generalized anxiety disorder during the veteran's period of active service. The VA examiner did not find any pathology related to these conditions.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions as there is no medical evidence linking them to the veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection is denied for the remaining conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected tension headaches with cervical pain, finding that his headaches do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to May 24, 1984 for a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease and denied his claim for service connection for a neck disability.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed to fully evaluate the veteran's claims, including service medical records and VA treatment records. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and then adjudicate the claims.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, hemorrhoids, cervical spine disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and rash as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders.

The veteran's cervical spine and headaches disorders were not incurred during service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be productive of a disability picture that precludes her from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and work experience. The Board concludes that the veteran is not entitled to a TDIU rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical strain. The VA found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for cervical strain, as his range of motion was within normal limits with no significant pain or other functional loss. For the lumbar spine condition, the VA determined that there were no incapacitating episodes in the previous year, which is required for a higher evaluation under the revised criteria.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right eye disability.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his cause of death (sepsis) was not related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of current chronic cervical spine, respiratory, or bilateral elbow and arm disorders. The appellant's service medical records did not document any such conditions, and his post-service treatment records also lacked relevant diagnoses.