Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 8 and July 20, 2003 is denied due to a lack of records from VA facilities and private providers. The case is being returned for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted, with the cervical spine disability receiving a 20% evaluation effective October 21, 2005.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a head injury are linked to his in-service head trauma, and the Board has granted service connection. However, the claim for an increased rating remains denied as there is no evidence of multi-infarct dementia associated with brain trauma.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

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

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability, paracervical strain, and post-traumatic headaches were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was initially granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective July 18, 2001.,In November 2006, the veteran received an increased rating to 20 percent effective October 4, 2006.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected cervical spine disability and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for thoracic and lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease, as well as cervical degenerative disc and joint disease. The case will be reviewed again after the additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's character of discharge from his second period of service is a bar to receiving VA benefits for this period, and thus denied all claims on appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a lack of timely substantive appeal for the March 2002 rating decision on service connection for residuals of head injury, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

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

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the TDIU award should be June 24, 1997, as this is when the veteran submitted evidence indicating he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, low back, and neck disabilities due to a lack of current medical evidence showing these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical questions regarding the veteran's back and muscle conditions in service, as well as post-service injuries. The claims will be adjudicated again based on this new development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for increased evaluations can be decided.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's conditions, including residuals of head injury with skull loss, rectus muscle paralysis with diplopia in his left eye, status post compression fracture with degenerative changes and cervical neuritis, and tender operative scar from a hip donor site.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right hip and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine were denied as there is no evidence showing more than moderate limitation of motion or neurologic deficit.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine, and deviated septum. The appeals are based on direct service connection.