Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for cervical muscle spasm and assigned a 10 percent rating. A separate rating for limitation of motion of the cervical spine is also granted, but no additional rating is given as compensable symptoms are not shown.

The veteran's additional physical disability, including right C5-6 cervical radiculopathy and psychiatric disorder, is not deemed to be the result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault by VA. The Board finds that there was no event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression as secondary to service-connected low back disability, is remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine had its onset during service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted higher initial ratings for the veteran's service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, with effective dates back to July 18, 2007.

The veteran's appeal involves his cervical spine disability, including a claim for an earlier effective date and TDIU. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the complexity of the issues.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was granted, with the effective date set at June 6, 1991. The veteran met the criteria for TDIU as of that date due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, right thumb disability, and dental disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disorders due to new evidence submitted since the May 1977 denial. The Board found that a pre-existing cervical spine disorder was aggravated during active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine and radiculitis conditions have been granted, with the effective date being from March 10, 1998.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for cutaneous neuritis of the left thigh, were denied. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches was also denied.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his toe and cervical spine disabilities have been granted, but the Board has determined that he is not entitled to higher ratings based on the severity of his conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's spinal disorders did not warrant a higher rating prior to January 18, 2000. The RO had previously denied increased ratings for cervical and lumbosacral spine conditions in June 1997 and October 1998, respectively. After reviewing medical evidence from January 18, 2000, the RO determined that the veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated the requirements for a 60 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine warrants a 10 percent rating, as it results in moderate to moderately severe functional loss with forward flexion not greater than 30 degrees and combined range of motion not greater than 170 degrees.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, PTSD, depressive disorder, memory loss, anxiety, anger, shortness of breath, and headaches. The appellant's service in the Southwest Asia theater did not result in any new or aggravated disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for his cervical spine disability, finding no evidence linking it to his military service.

The evidence received subsequent to the August 2000 Board decision is new and material, allowing the claim for a cervical spine disorder to be reopened. The left hip disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence and readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right ankle disability, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for worsening of cervical myelopathy with loss of use of both upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right ear hearing loss disability, and left ear hearing loss disability. The claimant's headache disability was rated at 0 percent.