Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as right eye trauma and bilateral leg disability. The veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for headaches, as there is no evidence of a current condition that can be linked to the in-service injury.

The Board denied both claims for service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for DJD of the lumbar spine. The cervical spine condition was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to reopening a previously denied claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and the secondary service connection claim. The veteran must be notified about the applicable laws and regulations, including those regarding new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a 50 percent rating, reflecting severe limitation of motion and demonstrable muscle spasm.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of a neck injury with radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to September 25, 2003 and since September 26, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine condition is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.,The VA examiner concluded there was no causal connection between the veteran's service-connected lumbar pathology and his normal hips, thus denying his claim for bilateral hip condition secondary to a service-connected low back disability.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-patient records from the 249th General Hospital and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase based on orthopedic manifestations or incapacitating episodes. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.

The veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability, which he contends is related to a shrapnel injury sustained in service. The VA has not provided an opinion on whether the current cervical spine disability was aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his cervical disc disease, status-post anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia as a presumptive disability due to service in the Gulf War. Service connection was denied for back, neck, and right shoulder disabilities unrelated to fibromyalgia.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability has been denied. For the period prior to September 24, 2004, he was not entitled to a rating higher than 40 percent. For the period from September 24, 2004, forward, he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating of 60 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected cervical myositis does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for severe limitation of motion or favorable ankylosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right elbow disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine condition was rated at 10 percent, left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis at 10 percent, right foot disability (pes planus with plantar fasciitis) was not found to be related to service, and depression was not shown to have been incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, right shoulder, and right hand disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify stressors and obtain medical records, including those from private chiropractors. The veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current cervical spine disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's neck and back disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active duty. The preponderance of the evidence indicates that post-service injuries have caused his present disabilities.