Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a medical opinion assessing his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches are secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability and granted a 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the cervical spine. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating.

The Board denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical and lumbar spine disk disease. The veteran's claim for hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. For the cervical and lumbar spine issues, there is no direct evidence linking current disabilities to active service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disorders, including as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain and L4-L5 bulge, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The VA has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and effective dates related to his lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylosis with degenerative osteoarthritis and disc disease, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The VA found that none of these conditions have significantly changed since the last rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of the cervical spine disability claim.

The Board denied the veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied service connection claims for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to address evidence of a neurological deficit in the report of VA orthopedic examination.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and a right clavicle condition, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound was denied as he does not meet the requirements for these benefits due to his severe disability but lack of actual need for regular aid and assistance.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling medical examinations, and considering the intertwined issues of TDIU and increased rating for mood disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the veteran's current condition and his in-service injury.

The Board found that the veteran's back disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral hand arthritis are all service-connected. The back disorder is directly related to an in-service injury, the cervical spine disorder is secondary to a service-connected head injury, and the bilateral hand arthritis is not service-connected but may be secondary to a service-connected left elbow fracture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical adenopathy, which was initially granted in November 1994, does not warrant a compensable rating since November 1996. The medical evidence shows no objective findings of cervical adenopathy or enlarged cervical lymph nodes after November 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the cervical spine, finding that it is likely incurred during active duty service. The veteran's current DJD was noted approximately three weeks outside the one-year presumptive period for arthritis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at a combined of 70 percent, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since the grant of service connection. The current rating is not sufficient to reflect his condition, which includes severe intervertebral disc syndrome with radiculopathy and muscle atrophy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of service dates and a VA examination to determine the degree of impairment due to the right knee disability. The appellant is also seeking service connection for left knee and spine disorders.