Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional information and documents, specifically the veteran's workers' compensation file from his post-service injury. The issues of service connection for neck and upper back disabilities remain pending.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disorder during service or within one year after discharge, and concluded that the current cervical spine disorder is not related to service. The veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, an upper back disability, and a right hand disability. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional VA examinations and an opinion on whether the veteran's service-connected low back disability aggravated his nonservice-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical strain with muscle spasms warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from June 2000.

The Board has determined that the claims for impotency, hearing loss, cervical spine disorder, and skin rash should be remanded due to procedural defects in their adjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete evidence and need for additional examinations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical stenosis and arthritis, as well as his attempt to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of a back injury with degenerative disc disease. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any incident therein.

The veteran seeks an increased rating for cervical dysplasia, which was previously granted but rated noncompensable. The RO must adjudicate a claim of service connection for residuals of a hysterectomy and then readjudicate the compensable rating claim.

The veteran's cervical disc disease, C-7 fracture was rated at 20 percent prior to September 23, 2002. The evidence does not support a higher rating during this period.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and arthritis of the lumbar spine due to a lack of sufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, as well as bilateral shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has ordered a new examination to determine if his condition warrants an increased rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of a lumbar spine injury with degenerative disc disease effective January 31, 2005. The veteran's claim for an increased rating remains in appeal.

The veteran's cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease have not resulted in more than moderate intervertebral disc syndrome or severe limitation of motion, respectively. Therefore, the claims for increased evaluations are granted.

The Board finds that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected and denied his claim. The NOD regarding the denial of a higher rating for lumbar spine disability was timely filed.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for cervical-dorsal strain and PTSD, as well as service connection for a lower left leg condition secondary to his cervical-dorsal strain, were denied by the RO. The veteran was not granted any new or additional benefits.