Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia and finds it at least as likely as not related to his military service. The issue of secondary service connection for a cervical spine disability remains pending.

The Veteran's combined schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of neurological impairment.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has determined that a 10% rating is warranted. The cervical spine disability is rated as noncompensable and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected, with no current evidence of chronic left knee disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, or bilateral hearing loss. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical examination and development of her claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for tonsillitis and cervical adenopathy. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a low back disorder during service or within one year thereafter, and there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease causally related to his current condition. For the compensable evaluation claim, the Board noted that the Veteran's tonsillitis and cervical adenopathy were manifested by intermittent complaints treated at home.

The Board found that a chronic upper back disability of the thoracic and cervical spine was not incurred during service or due to a service-connected condition, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for burn scars of the neck and left arm and axilla, finding that they were aggravated in service. Service connection is also granted for a chronic neck disorder (cervical dystonia torticollis and degenerative arthritis) as it was caused by the aggravation of pre-existing scar tissue during service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) remains pending.

The Veteran's fibroids, ovarian cysts, and cervical dysplasia are currently rated as 10% disabling due to continuous treatment. The current symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, claimed as a right shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine degenerative disc disease was not incurred in service, is not presumed to have been incurred in service, and has not been caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. As a result, the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 17, 2007 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from January 17, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability was granted, with the effective date set at March 8, 2007. The issue of service connection for leg pain secondary to his cervical spine disability is also addressed and resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to increased rating for lumbar spine disorder and service connection for cervical spine disorder are before the Board.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for cervical spine strain and denied service connection for thoracolumbar strain. The claim to reopen the final disallowed thoracolumbar strain was also granted.

The Board has restored a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, effective December 1, 2007. The evidence does not show improvement in the condition.