Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of his anxiety disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability, specifically post-traumatic headaches. The right ankle, left knee, cervical spine, and post-traumatic headache ratings remain unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine injury, stomach problems, and chest pain due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no in-service diagnosis or chronic disability linked to the veteran's current conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in service and is not causally related to a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant records.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a low back injury. However, there is no competent medical evidence showing current diagnoses or chronic disabilities of the foot, leg, hip, anxiety/depression, or PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and numbness of the arms, but granted a 20 percent evaluation for left lower extremity L5 radiculopathy.

The Board found that the veteran's back injury during service was a psychogenic musculoskeletal reaction with no organic basis, and any current cervical spine disability is not causally related to his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a back, neck, right upper extremity, or left upper extremity disability.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The effective date of his 100% rating for major depressive disorder is February 6, 2006.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The veteran's service-connected low back disorder, characterized by pain and severe limitation of motion, is rated at the maximum allowable under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The initial rating for cervical spondylosis was also granted.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective from September 8, 2003. The Board has determined that the criteria for a higher initial evaluation have been met.

The Board denied the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that the veteran's seizure and subsequent neck pain were not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or a similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating and an earlier effective date for service connection were granted. The current disability rating is 40 percent, effective May 31, 1995.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to his inability to walk without assistance and the lack of structural adaptations needed in his home.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine did not warrant an increased rating prior to November 25, 2002.

The veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he claims is secondary to his already service-connected lumbar and thoracic conditions. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his TDIU benefit, which was granted in April 2004. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the earliest date at which he became unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from various providers. The veteran's cervical spine disability is being evaluated to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a neck injury and granted it, finding new evidence sufficient to reopen the case.