Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical radiculopathy, which pre-existed his second period of active service, was aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine is related to his service, specifically parachute jumps during active duty. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, manifested by forward flexion of 40 degrees and arthritis, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, and his disability of the neck were not incurred in service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for cervical disc disease and erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction, as there was no deformity of the penis.

The veteran died of metastatic sarcoma, but the VA medical opinion and independent medical expert (IME) concluded that his service-connected cervical spine disability did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a current low back disability, and thus service connection for a low back disability cannot be granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a whiplash injury to the cervical area and for an evaluation of status post sigmoidoscopy and hemorrhoidectomy. The case is being remanded for further action regarding the latter issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities, including a right ankle fracture, chronic low back pain, hypertension, cervical myositis, arthritis of the left foot, depressive disorder, and morbid obesity, has been established. As such, he qualifies for special monthly pension based on this need.

The Board has ordered a remand for an additional VA examination to determine if the veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spine radiculopathies and productive changes of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted initial evaluations in excess of 20 percent effective from April 6, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, arthritis of multiple joints (including degenerative changes of the cervical spine), a heart condition (claimed as arteriosclerotic heart disease), hypertension, and a chronic disability manifested by weakness of the extremities. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service or are related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions in the September 2007 examination report.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the current condition is related to any incident during active duty.

The veteran's claims for service connection for urinary tract infections and cervical dysplasia were denied. The veteran was granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, status post rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder, and migraine headaches with current diagnoses and assigned initial evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion, requiring a new VA medical examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's current cervical spine disability was incurred in his military service.

The Board found that the appellant did not develop any additional disability of his left wrist, neck or back as a result of VA surgical treatment. The surgeries were deemed to be appropriate and there was no evidence of negligence on the part of VA.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a back disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for asthma. However, it was determined that asthma did not exist prior to service and was not aggravated by active service. The other claims were also denied as there is no evidence of arthritis, hernia repair, cervical spine disorder, or low back disorder during service. The parakeratotic squamous mucosa with focal acute inflammation of the soft palate claim was also denied.