Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to his inability to walk without assistance and the lack of structural adaptations needed in his home.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine did not warrant an increased rating prior to November 25, 2002.

The veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he claims is secondary to his already service-connected lumbar and thoracic conditions. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his TDIU benefit, which was granted in April 2004. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the earliest date at which he became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from various providers. The veteran's cervical spine disability is being evaluated to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a neck injury and granted it, finding new evidence sufficient to reopen the case.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent for the veteran's cervical spine disability from October 6, 1995 to December 20, 1995 and from March 1, 1996 through April 16, 2003. The claimant was also granted a compensable initial evaluation of 10 percent for his left occipital neuropathy.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability. The Board also found that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to his military service.

The Board found no current disabilities of the lumbar spine, thoracic spine, cervical spine, or right hip and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disc disease is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right eye strain and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for cervical spondylosis, degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine (prior to June 9, 2005 and from June 9, 2005 onwards), and facial paralysis, residuals of basal skull fracture.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as a left shoulder disability. The veteran was granted service connection for recurrent major depression.

The Board denied service connection for a left little finger disorder, hypertension, and a cervical spine disorder. The veteran's pre-existing left little finger disorder was not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disorder in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, arthritis of the cervical spine, or a perforated left tympanic membrane. The Board also found no evidence to support service connection for colon cancer.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a cervical spine disability that is due to disease or injury incurred in service, and it is less likely than not caused by her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability and gout. The CUE claim regarding Reiter's Syndrome was also granted, allowing the rating to be restored from 10% to noncompensable.

The veteran's schizophrenia was granted service connection, but his back conditions, hypertension, kidney condition, sinusitis, and bilateral foot condition were denied.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical disc diseases due to a lack of medical evidence linking the conditions to military service.