Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for cervical spondylosis, denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right leg disability, and remanded the other issues.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent from June 3, 1998, to August 15, 2007, and at 20 percent as of August 16, 2007.,VA denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection was denied for a neck disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Veteran's current condition is not service-connected due to lack of medical evidence linking it to his military service.,The claim for removal of the gall bladder was also denied. There is no credible or competent evidence showing that this surgery occurred during service and there are no indications of a chronic disability resulting from any illness.

The Board found that the Veteran's urinary incontinence is not related to his service-connected back disability and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 18, 1998 for the award of TDIU and found that DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are warranted due to the Veteran's unemployability.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor are they related to his service-connected pes planus. The VA examiner concluded that the current spinal conditions are age-related.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his right ankle disability were granted, with a current rating of 20 percent effective from November 8, 2011.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities including a respiratory disability, sinusitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, lumbar radiculopathy, postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, left arm and shoulder disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and bilateral pes planus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sinusitis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbar radiculopathy on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, status post fusion on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for left arm and shoulder disability on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). The claims are being remanded to allow for further development of the claim, including consideration of PTSD under Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009).,The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral pes planus based on a presumption of soundness due to the absence of pes planus at entrance into service and exposure to asbestos and tear gas during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right foot plantar fasciitis and left foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The RO assigned non-compensable ratings to these disabilities.

The Board has jurisdiction over the propriety of a compensable rating for residuals of fracture, left cheekbone, left malar. The Veteran's facial nerve damage, trigeminal nerve, is rated 10 percent since February 27, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and right knee disorders were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher disability evaluation.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability has not manifested in loss of range of motion to the extent that forward flexion was less than 15 degrees or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. Therefore, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board denied both claims for service connection, finding that the Veteran's cervical spine and respiratory disorders pre-existed his ADSW service and were not aggravated by it.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability from September 23, 2002 forward.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, but granted service connection for Addison's disease.,Addison's disease was granted based on new and material evidence.

The VA has determined that the appellant's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation prior to March 4, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and cervical/lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examinations concluded that these conditions are less likely related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, and his cervical radiculopathy with paresthesias and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity is rated at 20 percent. The Board has granted these ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder and bilateral knee disorder are due to his own willful misconduct during service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.