Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, and a cervical spine disability as there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year of discharge, nor any competent medical evidence linking them to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for discogenic disease of the cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral hand shakiness. The veteran was also denied increased ratings for his left wrist, left radial head, and left scapular wing disabilities.

The veteran's cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis were granted increased ratings to 20 percent, while the other conditions remained at 10 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for earlier effective dates of service connection for various disabilities, and the claims were dismissed.

The appeal was denied because the evidence submitted since the October 2001 rating decision did not suggest that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his military service, and the disability due to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling of a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Houston, Texas VARO.

The Board dismissed the appeal as service connection for a neck condition was granted, making the issue moot.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, bilateral tinnitus, right ankle disability, and cervical spine disability as there was no medical evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, but the case was remanded due to an inadequate statement of reasons and bases.

The veteran's degenerative disc disease in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine was not service-connected. However, involuntary twitching of the arms, hands and legs and vertigo were both service-connected as due to an undiagnosed illness based on his Persian Gulf War service.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities do not meet the criteria for ratings in excess of 30 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent respectively.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but he received an increased disability evaluation of 30 percent effective March 14, 2007. The Board remanded the claim for service connection for a back and neck disability for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and cervical disorder were remanded for additional development, including providing the veteran with proper notice of his rights under VA law and scheduling him for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.

The Board denied service connection for foot problems and spinal problems, to include degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's period of active military service.

The veteran's initial ratings for the service-connected compression fracture, T9, with lumbosacral strain and cervical spine strain were denied as they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of frostbite, syphilis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, tinea pedis, and tinea cruris as there is no competent evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was not related to his military service or any of the claimed secondary conditions.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was found to be the result of service, and service connection is granted.