Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2009

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the relationship between any current cervical spine disability and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension by reason of being housebound or needing the aid and attendance of another.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, a cervical spine disability, a lower extremity disability, a skin disability, a sinus disability, headaches, heart disease, fibromyalgia, and a dental disability as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are causally related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied higher ratings for the cervical spine, post-traumatic headaches, and deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's visual acuity in his left eye was 20/400, and he is legally blind in that eye; however, a remand is necessary to determine the severity of the nonservice-connected right eye.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, based on moderate limitation of motion with demonstrable deformity of vertebral body.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability was granted, and his claim for a spinal disability (cervical and thoracic spine) was reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for the residuals of nasal fracture and neck injury (to include degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine) as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously-denied claims.

The claim for service connection for cervical spine osteoarthritis was not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted. The veteran's lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold-weather injury in both feet, hypertension, tinea pedis, a cervical spine disorder, and bilateral tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to a lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's spondylosis, thoracic and lumbar spines, has been evaluated as 40 percent disabling, and the cervical spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis have been evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The Board denied higher ratings for these conditions.

The appeal was remanded to obtain additional evidence, including private treatment records.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims ruled that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for a back disability are met and that service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral heel spurs, and a bilateral hip disability are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, cervical muscle spasms, and a neck injury as there was no evidence of an in-service event, injury, or disease that could be linked to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and an increased rating for cervical myositis were denied.

The case is remanded for further development and readjudication of the claims.