Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, migraine headaches, and gastritis as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected cervical strain, but the Board has determined that a remand is necessary to assess the current severity of his disability and determine if he has any radiculopathy or neurological impairment.

Service connection has been granted for a disability of the cervical spine (C5-6 and C6-7), a growth on the left foot, degenerative changes in the left knee and distal femur, and a pulmonary disorder to include COPD. Service connection was not established for blisters of the feet.,The veteran's service connection claims were granted based on presumptive exposure to Gulf War conditions.

The Board has determined that a 20 percent rating is warranted for the veteran's residuals of a cervical spine injury, based on moderate limitation of motion.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for cervical spine diskectomy and fusion was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical spondylosis is denied.,An effective date of July 8, 1998 is granted for the assignment of a 60 percent rating for lumbosacral spine disorder.

The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for a right shoulder condition, as it is more likely due to a pre-existing condition or unrelated to service. The veteran's cervical spine and scoliosis conditions were also not supported by the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient clinical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA spine examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and any current cervical spine disorder.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from February 10, 2006. The right ankle and gastroesophageal reflux disease disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if he needs aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, cervical spine disability (DDD), lumbar spine disability (DDD), and scoliosis due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of spondylosis of the cervical spine with radiculopathy and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The veteran's current neck disability was not incurred or aggravated in service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been. For his lumbar spine disability, a higher rating than 40 percent is denied as there are no findings of pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, or left shoulder disabilities in service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for prostate cancer, low back disorder, and cervical spine disorder were denied as there was no evidence of a causal connection to service or exposure to asbestos.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

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

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The veteran's claim of service connection for cervical spondylosis is being remanded due to the need to address a separate issue regarding lumbosacral strain and potential clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision.