Neck / cervical spine decisions — 2011

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability incurred or aggravated by service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder and has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also found that the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hip disorders are not related to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine injury is not related to her service, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, which he claims is related to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10% prior to August 24, 2010. After a review of his medical records and examination findings, the Board has determined that he is entitled to an increased rating to 20%. The effective date for this increase in rating remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no earlier formal or informal claim for the conditions listed.,An effective date of January 16, 1951 is granted for service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the retrieval of relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome (IDS) with objective evidence of spasms and neurological symptoms appropriate to diseases of the disc, is rated at 60 percent effective from the date of his claim to May 17, 2010.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disorder in service or until many years thereafter, and there is no credible evidence linking the cervical spine disorder to service or to a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for a cervical spine disorder was denied.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's cervical strain disability, effective from September 27, 2010. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain issue is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine and low back strain disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of forward flexion of the cervical spine or thoracolumbar spine meeting the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment provided at Grays Harbor Hospital beginning on March 27, 2009 are granted due to the emergent nature of his condition and the unfeasibility of using VA facilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection and increased ratings in the specified cases, thus dismissing these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and reschedule VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a cervical strain with radiation into the right paraspinous musculature. The Veteran's STRs show he suffered a neck injury while swimming, leading to chronic pain over time.

The Veteran's right foot heel spur is rated at 10% due to moderate disability, but no higher.,Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as it does not cause limitation in motion or other functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, neck, and headache disabilities based on continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service treatment records show the Veteran experienced back pain during service in 1986 and 1988. Post-service treatment records confirm a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, onychomycosis of the feet and toes, a fungus infection of the first finger, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's annual income was found to be excessive for nonservice-connected pension benefits.