Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected chronic low back pain with mild wedge compression and marginal spurs is rated at 10 percent since February 9, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diagnosed conditions such as low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, multiple joints arthritis, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, or shin splints. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her cervical disc strain, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable evaluation criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and right shoulder disability, but denied requests for higher initial ratings. The veteran's cervical strain is currently rated at 10 percent since November 10, 2002.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back, tailbone, or neck/cervical spine disabilities to his service. The VA examinations and medical records did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for paralysis of the right ulnar nerve. The veteran's arthritis was found to not meet criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedules.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and increased ratings for lumbar strain and cervical strain, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation, including determining whether the veteran's congenital deformity was aggravated by service and if any current neck or back disabilities are separate from his congenital condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease at the lumbar spine levels remains pending.

The Board has found that the veteran's DDD and other degenerative changes of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, to include residuals of fracture at T12, were incurred in active service.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, right ankle, left ankle, right hand, and left hand have been evaluated based on their initial grant of service connection.,The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee (previously characterized as chondromalacia) has also been evaluated based on its initial grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine disabilities are not related to service. The VA examiner found no evidence of injury or disease in service and concluded that any current spinal conditions are unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed spine disabilities and multiple sclerosis, including obtaining VA medical records from his service period and scheduling him for appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new evidence, a VA examination, and compliance with VCAA notification requirements.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, consisting of depression and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, do not render him individually unemployable.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA neurological examination to assess the severity of his radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities were not caused by his active military service. The evidence does not demonstrate a link between these conditions and his period of service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc and joint disease of the cervical spine with left upper extremity radiculopathy, degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with left lower extremity radiculopathy, and migraine headaches, have resulted in a combined schedular rating of 90 percent. The veteran is unable to walk or use stairs due to his service-connected disabilities, meeting the criteria for specially adapted housing.