Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, PTSD, depressive disorder, memory loss, anxiety, anger, shortness of breath, and headaches. The appellant's service in the Southwest Asia theater did not result in any new or aggravated disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for his cervical spine disability, finding no evidence linking it to his military service.

The evidence received subsequent to the August 2000 Board decision is new and material, allowing the claim for a cervical spine disorder to be reopened. The left hip disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence and readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right ankle disability, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for worsening of cervical myelopathy with loss of use of both upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right ear hearing loss disability, and left ear hearing loss disability. The claimant's headache disability was rated at 0 percent.

The veteran's left shoulder disorder is granted as it is proximately due to the service-connected limitation of supination, left arm.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for scoliosis, residuals of a head injury, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The veteran also did not receive an increased rating for his PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, and residuals of head injury. The claim to reopen a previously denied left knee disorder was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability but denied increased ratings for the back and hearing loss disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a sleep disorder secondary to the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder with scoliosis, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic symptoms, and no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and bronchial asthma.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and PTSD, as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a causal connection between the veteran's conditions and military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and cervical spine disorder were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a herniated disc of the cervical spine, finding no evidence that the disability was incurred in or aggravated by active military service and no competent medical evidence linking it to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's cervical spine strain is not shown to be more severe than the currently assigned 30 percent rating, and there are no other service-connected conditions for which a higher initial disability rating can be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including migraine headaches, cervical spine, dorsal (thoracic) and lumbar spine, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right knee, left knee, and left ankle.

The veteran's lumbar degenerative disc and facet disease was rated at 20 percent, effective from October 19, 2007. The other issues remain pending.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that an evaluation in excess of 30 percent was not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, and chronic sinusitis as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or sufficient evidence to link them to the veteran's active duty.