Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine fracture and related disabilities were not incurred due to willful misconduct, thus denying service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, finding that his disabilities did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected.,Major depression was granted service connection effective January 22, 1999. The veteran contends for a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's current cervical spine condition is related to service.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is not related to his active service, but he has arthritis of the right hand that may be secondary to a service-connected fracture. His neck and back conditions are not shown during or after service, and hypertension is likely due to PTSD.,An additional VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to an injury sustained in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to VCAA compliance issues and missing medical records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability and granted a 40% evaluation for his low back disability. The new evidence includes VA and private medical records, as well as testimony from the veteran.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability and cervical spine disability, but granted a 40% rating for low back disability effective from March 1992. The veteran's claim for increased ratings of his postoperative deviated nasal septum with chronic congestion and TDIU remains pending.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's cervical spondylosis with degenerative joint disease, finding that his disability was manifested by moderate limitation of motion and no evidence of severe cervical spine limitation of motion.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating based on service-connected spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 with secondary myositis of the cervical, dorsal and lumbar paravertebral muscles prior to March 11, 2005.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that scleroderma was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the disability manifested by painful joints and fatigue and/or nausea is not related to service or undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with mild radicular involvement, right lower extremity was granted. The effective date is April 16, 2005. The veteran also received a grant for his residuals of traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine disability. The veteran's claim of reopening the cervical spine disability was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 26, 2003 and as of September 26, 2003. The effective date remains at September 26, 2003.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with evaluations of 60 percent for the postoperative residuals of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and 20 percent for neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The cervical spine claim was denied.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current cervical spine disability began during military service or was aggravated therein, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied a rating in excess of the current 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, citing that his symptoms and findings do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found no current chronic right shoulder disability, including as a manifestation of cervical spine radiculopathy. Therefore, service connection for the claimed condition was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine, right arm and right leg disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service medical records and post-service medical records, including from the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. The veteran is also to be provided with a VA examination for an orthopedic and neurological evaluation of his neck and back disabilities.