Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right hip disorder or left hip disorder related to her active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination with an orthopedist to determine the nature and likely etiology of the veteran's cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions.

The veteran's left knee disability is not shown to be related to his service or service-connected sarcoidosis.,Service connection for sarcoidosis has been granted and the current disability picture more nearly approximates that of pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high dose (therapeutic) corticosteroids for control, warranting a 60 percent evaluation.,The veteran's right index finger deformity is shown to be productive of functional loss that more nearly approximates that of a gap of one inch between the tip of the digit and the palm, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, gastritis, and a back condition. The veteran was not granted any increased ratings for his pilonidal cyst or hypertension.,Service connection was denied for gastritis and a back condition as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further review of his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for a cervical spine disability and ulnar nerve impairment, as well as his service connection claims for right shoulder impingement, migraines, and synovitis of the right wrist. The evidence did not establish current disabilities for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a neck injury, including arthritis of the cervical spine and residuals of bilateral hip injuries. The application to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of bilateral hip injuries was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and spine disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The Board also noted that the veteran's left ear hearing loss existed prior to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine with cervical disc disease, hypertension with sinus tachycardia, and malignant thymoma. The claim for residuals of a back muscle strain was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any cervical and thoracic spine disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound. The claims for secondary service connection are also intertwined with the rating claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease with left shoulder radiculopathy, left knee ACL injury, and hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, including sacralization of L5/S1 and lumbar disc disease, as well as cervical spine disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and was not aggravated during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and compensation for cervical spine disc disease with arachnoiditis was denied.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for post-operative residuals of herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1, with lumbar arachnoiditis was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for spondylosis, cervical spine. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current cervical spine disorder to service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent initial evaluation for the veteran's service-connected status post C5-6 sublaxation fracture, with fusion at C4-7, with residual limitation of motion of the cervical spine and occipital headaches.

The veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20% for cervical strain has been dismissed as the claim is now moot due to additional service-connected disability benefits awarded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The VA determined that the veteran's chronic cervical strain does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.