Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for her low back disorder and service connection for her cervical spine disorder, finding that she did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability with headaches as secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder. The decision is final.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability warrants a rating of 10 percent effective as of May 2003, based on slight limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, fibrocystic breast disease, chronic residuals of right inguinal and umbilical hernia repairs, and a sigmoid colon disability, are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The examiner opined that these conditions are unrelated to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 14, 1998 for service connection of PTSD. The issue of a higher initial rating for arthritis of the cervical spine is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision and is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder, sleep apnea, fractures and degenerative changes of the hips, knees, feet and arms, and fractures and degenerative changes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine and a venous insufficiency. The claims were previously denied in July 1993 but reopened due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back and neck disabilities are service-connected, but his coccyx/tailbone disability and right flank disability were not found to be related to service. The initial ratings for the left little finger and right ring finger scars remain at zero percent.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 30 percent, the maximum for a non-ankylosed cervical spine. The dorsal spine and occipital neurectomy disorders are each rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for arachnoiditis of the lumbar and cervical spine was denied. The RO found that to award such a rating would constitute pyramiding under 38 C.F.R. § 4.14 (2004).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for residuals of head trauma and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are granted, with the presumption of service connection due to combat involvement.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a rating of 30 percent, effective from March 11, 2000.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's cervical spine disability was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition, while his bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at 10% based on VA audiometric evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of laceration to left patella with tendon involvement do not warrant a compensable rating, and his claim for service connection for cervical strain is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a cervical spine condition or headaches incurred in service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine, low back, and chronic headache disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiner did not provide an opinion linking these conditions to military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of additional disability resulting from VA treatment for a March 1999 fracture of the right ankle, and thus denied her claims under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.