Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's combined rating is 70 percent, but his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The veteran's cervical disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, but the VA examiner found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limitations in range of motion. The lumbar spine injury with traumatic arthritis also did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, left hamstring disability, neck disability and low back disability was denied as he does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain medical records from the veteran's providers.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is now rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased evaluations and service connection. The gunshot wound to the cervical spine at C2 remains rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and residuals of right arm fracture have been denied. The claim for increased rating for residuals of right total hip replacement has been granted with a current evaluation of 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, manifested by C7 radiculopathy, was incurred in active service and is rated at its maximum of 100 percent. The upper back disability claim remains denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen it.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability from appeal. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, with a current rating of 50 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the spine and a cervical spine disability, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim and that there was no link between current disabilities and service.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board denied the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for neurological manifestations in the left upper extremity due to a cervical spine disorder, as well as TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea/insomnia, chloracne as secondary to herbicide exposure, a cervical spine disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The veteran's complaints of these conditions were not found to be related to his time in service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and a separate rating for neurological manifestations of his cervical spine disability is being remanded for additional development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her low back strain with arthritis, cervical spine strain/sprain, and bilateral ankle sprain/strain were denied by the Board. The conditions are rated based on their current manifestations without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted for a right hip disability. The other conditions, including diplopia and bilateral shoulder disability, were denied as new evidence was not sufficient to reopen the claims.

The veteran's service-connected right knee injury is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and neck disability. However, the claims were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only.

The veteran was granted a higher initial rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for coronary artery disease effective March 13, 2006. The other issues were either denied or not addressed in the decision summary.