Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was granted effective October 9, 2007. The initial ratings assigned were 40 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy and 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's cervical spine disability claim for further development and to issue a Statement of the Case on his initial increased rating claim for chronic headache disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, headaches, sciatica, and ulnar nerve disorder. The Veteran's service-connected back pain syndrome with Grade 1 L5-S1 spondylolisthesis is granted an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the RO failed to provide proper notice regarding new and material evidence for reopening the Veteran's previously denied service connection claim. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service connection for a right shoulder disability has been granted and he is currently receiving a 20 percent evaluation.,His service-connected right ankle disability was initially rated as noncompensable, but an increased rating to 10 percent effective March 16, 2009, and then to 20 percent effective April 27, 2010.

The Veteran's neck disability is service-connected as it was aggravated by his second period of active duty. The claim for back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The RO denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a right knee disorder, as well as thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral wrist condition, which may be related to service or other factors.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, arthralgia of the knees, myofascial syndrome, and a cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability and found that there is new and material evidence to support this claim. The reduction in the rating for the thoracic spine disability from 40 percent to 10 percent was improper, as it did not meet the criteria for such a reduction. The Veteran's current disability evaluation for his thoracic spine remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine or lumbar spine disability, and there is no evidence to support service connection for these conditions. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability and hypertension are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is being remanded to allow review of additional medical records.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine disability during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cervical strain and degenerative joint disease of the right knee have been granted. The Board found that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cervical spine injury due to incomplete development and lack of clarity regarding the Veteran's address.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spondylosis, concluding that there is no evidence of a current disability during or after service and attributing any present condition to post-service factors.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 3, 2004 for the grant of service connection for cervical spine arthritis is granted. The effective date will be set at June 24, 1993.