Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the effective loss of use of his lower extremities, including his feet. The Board has granted entitlement to financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spondylosis is related to service, and his bilateral shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including residuals of cold injury, scars to the hands (claimed in part as due to burns), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, fibromyalgia, and strabismus. The combined schedular evaluation was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and a cervical spine disability, finding that new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disability in service or within one year post-service, and denied service connection for the veteran's current degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine. The claim was also denied for temporary total evaluation under the provisions of 38 CFR § 4.30 following surgery.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,Degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine is not related to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that an examination is necessary to address the etiology of the veteran's current cervical spine disorder. The case will be remanded for further development and consideration.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and TDIU were denied as the evidence did not support an earlier date of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the veteran's spinal disabilities and arthritis/fibromyalgia. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar strain and cervical strain are pending, as is the issue regarding service connection for arthritis/fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's disabilities and assigned initial ratings. The veteran is seeking higher initial ratings, but the evidence does not support such increases.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to ambiguity in his service-connected disabilities and the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine warrants a rating of 40 percent, which is the maximum available under current regulations. The condition is manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disorders to his active service, resulting in a denial of both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for nonservice-connected pension benefits, service connection for a cervical spine disorder, and service connection for a right knee disorder. The decision found that the veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his ACDUTRA period of service in November 1971 to February 1972.

The Board has granted the veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability, previously denied in August 1991. The appeal is remanded to further develop evidence related to this issue.

The veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was rated at 40 percent since August 1, 2002. The cervical fusion of the C5-6 and C6-7 spine was increased to 40 percent effective July 27, 2000, with a temporary total rating from January 19, 2005, to March 31, 2005.

The evidence does not support the claim that the veteran's current cervical spine, upper extremity, low back, lower extremity, or hypertension disabilities are caused by the July 1989 anterior fusion at C4-C5 performed at a VA medical facility in Temple, Texas.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his military service and any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and cardiac arrhythmia secondary to hypertension.

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to substantiate the veteran's claim to reopen for PTSD. Service connection was denied as there was no credible supporting evidence of the actual occurrence of an in-service stressor, and the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his periods of active duty service.