Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim. He also receives a separate 10 percent rating for his headaches secondary to his Arnold-Chiari malformation.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent due to its current functional impairment and lack of severe intervertebral disc syndrome or ankylosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected residuals of a fracture of C1, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 16, 2001 for increased evaluations and service connection. The appeals were not granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a rating of 50 percent since September 26, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current neck disability is related to service, and thus grants service connection for residuals of a neck injury.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for thoracic/lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder has been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spondylosis with radicular symptoms is due to an injury sustained during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder disability or cervical spine disorder incurred during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hearing loss, and granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The claim for a compensable rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on and after May 1, 2003 was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right arm/elbow, right leg, and right hip disabilities are denied. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder disabilities were established prior to service and are not considered incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection is granted for the skin disability and right knee disability as they were established prior to service. Hypertension was not present during service or within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a neck disability related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling examinations and obtaining medical records. The case will be reviewed to determine if staged ratings are warranted for the cervical spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder warrants a 40 percent disability rating, effective from when his service-connected condition was first assigned.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received and a need for further review of the claim, including SSA records and notification issues.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and VCAA notice.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for the residuals of left humerus fracture, left clavicle and scapula fractures, and cervical disc bulge at C5-C6 were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's cervical spondylosis, C4-5 and C5-6, was rated at 10 percent from January 1, 1997 to September 25, 2003. Since then, the rating has been increased to 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, finding that no credible evidence confirms he filed a claim before May 24, 1999.