Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as they are not shown to be related to his military service.,For the period from October 23, 2002, to September 9, 2010, the Veteran's post-lumbar puncture headache disorder did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cervical stenosis, post disc operative surgery, is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is etiologically related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this disability. The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain rating remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder and cervical disc disease due to new examinations being necessary, additional VA medical records needing to be obtained, and possible SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling compensation and pension examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability (bone destruction) as a residual of radiation therapy. The issue of tinnitus, to include as a residual of radiation therapy, remains pending.

Service connection was granted for left shoulder, cervical spine, and thoracolumbar spine disorders effective June 3, 1998.,The Veteran's claims were denied initially in February 1994.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding no causal link to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with representation and further development is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's substantive appeals for service connection were not timely filed, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylosis, is attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the accrued benefits claims for papillary squamous cell carcinoma, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right ankle disability, thyroid disability, PTSD, and depression to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service. The claims for bilateral hand and fingers, wrist, and foot disabilities have been remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory condition and chronic neck disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective October 6, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted after a previous SSOC. The Veteran will be afforded appropriate examinations and clinical testing, and his claims will be readjudicated.

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine has been evaluated at a 20 percent rating since January 13, 2005. The Board found that his condition does not warrant an increase in disability evaluation.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of cervical syringomyelia, with loss of bowel control and sexual dysfunction, were not manifested by a limitation of musculoskeletal motion that approximated a rating higher than 30 percent, or by moderate to severe neurological symptomatology that approximated a rating higher than 30 percent for the period October 27, 2003, to November 16, 2010.