Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine was initially evaluated at 10 percent from December 26, 2001 and increased to 40 percent beginning on September 13, 2002. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressor events.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of the claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as they are aggravated by a service-connected cervical spine strain. The claim for left shoulder condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition.

Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions. The Board finds no evidence of current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied across multiple issues, including neck disability, hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The RO previously denied these claims as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the etiology of any currently present cervical spine disorders. The claim will be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for neck and right shoulder pain as the evidence did not show a current disability related to service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right knee, right hip and lumbar spine as these conditions are not shown to be related to service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for hives/angioedema was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and low back disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a 30 percent evaluation, which is more than the current 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed arthritis of the right knee, cervical and lumbar spine is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed degenerative arthritis conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his service-connected ulcerative colitis and these disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and did not develop as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the veteran's service injury and his current cervical spine disability, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's recurrent left sciatica, diagnosed during active service, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that there is no credible and competent evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current disabilities and service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.