Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities meet the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating, effective March 19, 2003.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arthritis, and headaches due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's service treatment records to determine if there are any medical records from his hospitalization following a parachute accident in service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various injuries and conditions, but the appeal will be remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent. The VA determined that the current range of motion, despite muscle spasms and pain, does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability with left shoulder involvement is not etiologically linked to his active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA spine examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including whether it is related to service-connected lumbar spine disability or aggravated by such.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sexual dysfunction, colonic diverticulitis, and a nasal pterygium (loss of vision) are denied. The Veteran is already service connected for a cervical strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, characterized as chronic lumbosacral strain, is service-connected. The cervical spine issue remains pending.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for arthritis of the neck, which was last denied in April 1995.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic back and neck disorders is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the statutory requirements for a TDIU claim. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran withdrew his claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability prior to the Board's decision. The low back pain issue remains under consideration.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of a diskectomy and fusion, cervical spine were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability involving the cervical and lumbosacral spine. However, the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of a link between the current disability and military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection due to lack of evidence linking his current osteoarthritis to his military service.