Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2007

The veteran is seeking service connection for a neck disability, which he claims was caused by an in-service jeep accident. The VA has ordered the case back to the RO for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for PTSD and a cervical spine disability need further development, including obtaining verification of his in-service stressors and scheduling him for specialized examinations. The case is being remanded to allow these steps.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities were denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, while the cervical spine disability remains at 10 percent.

The veteran's traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine results in severe limitation of motion, warranting a 30 percent initial rating.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the service connection claims and other issues. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of these tasks.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions. The claim for psychiatric disability was also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board and the RO denied service connection for cervical spondylosis and fibromyositis of the trapezius muscles, and major depression. The veteran's new evidence was not considered material to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability related to his military service and finds no evidence of a compensable cervical spine disability. The claims for depression, left arm peripheral neuropathy, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and COPD/asthma are deferred pending completion of development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic bilateral knee disability, back disability, or neck disability (to include degenerative changes) related to service. The veteran's complaints of pain in these areas have not been substantiated by medical evidence and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral elbow condition and cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in or related to his active service. The veteran was denied both service connection for these conditions and an increased rating for his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current shoulder, upper back, and neck problems are not related to his military service or a pre-existing condition. The evidence does not support finding that any of these conditions were incurred in service.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was evaluated at 60 percent from October 1, 2001 through June 2, 2004 and again from October 1, 2004. The evaluation remains unchanged.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine disability and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is unable to proceed with the merits of her claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical and thoracic spine conditions are not related to his military service, including an in-service accident. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for his cervical spine disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent for this condition. Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine was caused by his service-connected low back disability. The claim for arthritis of the left wrist is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether it was aggravated by the service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying a claimed car accident and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran has current cervical spine or whiplash residuals.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a herniated disc of the cervical spine, C6-7 and for numbness in his right and left hands as secondary to service-connected disability. The decision also noted that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for a herniated disc of the cervical spine.