Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with history of headaches and intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine with spondylosis are being remanded to provide him a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, to include as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability; and also denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include as secondary to the service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a respiratory or breathing disability, numbness in the arms and legs, headaches, anemia, or any other claimed conditions.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for scoliosis, spondylosis of the cervical spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine to obtain additional medical records from SSA.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle, right and left leg, and right hand conditions were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for Chiari 1 malformation and a neck disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a lumbar spine disability as there was no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted increased ratings for benign tremor of the right and left upper extremities, as well as cervical strain with osteoarthritis, but denied increased ratings for lumbar and thoracic strain with osteoarthritis and disc disease.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability is not shown to be manifested by ankylosis, separately ratable neurological symptoms, or incapacitating episodes of 6 weeks or more in the past 12 months.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic contusion, medial epicondyle, right elbow and a cervical spine disorder to afford the veteran appropriate VA medical examinations.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a neck disability, including as secondary to her service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left shoulder disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability or that the claimed conditions were related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar scoliosis with degenerative changes and cervical spine degenerative changes, as the evidence did not show severe intervertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis.

The veteran's cervical and lumbar strains did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation during the relevant periods.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a cervical spine disorder, as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, and a cervical spine disability as there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year of discharge, nor any competent medical evidence linking them to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for discogenic disease of the cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral hand shakiness. The veteran was also denied increased ratings for his left wrist, left radial head, and left scapular wing disabilities.

The veteran's cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis were granted increased ratings to 20 percent, while the other conditions remained at 10 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for earlier effective dates of service connection for various disabilities, and the claims were dismissed.

The appeal was denied because the evidence submitted since the October 2001 rating decision did not suggest that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to his military service, and the disability due to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination.