Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board determined that the appellant was not entitled to any of the proceeds of the veteran's NSLI policy, and that the appellee was entitled to the full amount of the proceeds.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence. The VA is asked to clarify whether the veteran has separate radiculopathy symptoms and if so, differentiate them from fibromyalgia syndrome. Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine based on new and material evidence. The right knee disorder and back injury claims are being remanded to the RO for further development, while the left ankle sprain rating remains unchanged.

The VA has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected cervical strain, effective from September 26, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine and low back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or other factors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities have not been met due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not incur additional disability in his neck or cervical spine as a result of coronary artery bypass surgery performed at a VA Medical Center in May 1997.

The veteran asserts service connection for residuals, status post cervical spondylectomy and fusion. The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to his service-connected spondylitis with arthralgia of the lumbar spine, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of chip fracture, left hip, with traumatic arthritis was denied. His claims for service connection were also denied, but he was granted new and material evidence to reopen the claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left radiculopathy, status post laminectomy at L5, secondary to his service-connected left hip disorder.

The veteran's cervical strain, mild central spinal stenosis with small central protrusion at C3-4 and disc bulge at C4-5 and C5-6 is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The veteran's GERD and IBS are each rated as 10 percent disabling. His degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine does not warrant a higher rating, and his bilateral hearing loss is not compensable.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that he sustained a head injury in service and concluded that his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of whiplash injury of the cervical spine with radiculopathy to the left upper extremity are manifested by significant neuropathic pain residual, but without EMG evidence of acute or chronic denervation changes in the musculature of the left upper extremity. This is consistent with no more than mild incomplete paralysis of all radicular groups.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of cold injury to the hands or neck disability in service, and the current conditions do not meet criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure.

The veteran's service-connected cervical strain, left hip fracture, and left shoulder bursitis have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has not been established.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, depression, a cervical spine disorder, and urinary incontinence and gross hematuria as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking the current conditions to a 1972 injury during active duty.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine was granted an initial rating of 20 percent from August 9, 1996, to August 25, 2003. From that time forward, he is rated at 20 percent for his cervical spine disability and 10 percent for his thoracic spine disability.

The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability effective from October 15, 1997. The attorney is not entitled to payment of past-due benefits as the effective date of the increased rating only went back to October 15, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 60 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.