Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his right shoulder and left shoulder separation disabilities. The RO had previously increased some of these ratings but the veteran continued to assert entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's current head, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine disabilities are not shown to be causally related to a disease contracted or injury sustained in service, including his already service-connected left thigh injury. Therefore, they were denied secondary service connection.

The veteran's right ankle disability, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and bilateral shoulder disability were all granted service connection. The right ankle was increased to a 20% rating.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The RO denied reopening the claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, resulting in a final decision.

The veteran's cervical spine arthritis is rated at 10 percent, right hand arthritis at 10 percent, and thoracic spine arthritis is denied. The veteran was granted a higher rating for his right hand arthritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a neck disorder. The claim for PTSD was not substantiated, while the claim for a neck disorder is still pending as new evidence has been submitted to reopen it.

The veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions. The RO has granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, but the cervical-thoracic spine and right shoulder disabilities are not currently rated under the old criteria due to their protected status. The case is being remanded for further development including additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or on account of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 20 percent evaluation from December 11, 2001 to March 18, 2005 and a 30 percent evaluation beginning March 19, 2005. His right tibia fracture residuals were also granted a 20 percent evaluation from December 11, 2001 to March 18, 2005 and a 30 percent evaluation beginning March 19, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal tract disability, neck disability, and left ankle disability. The reasons were that there was no evidence of current disabilities attributable to service.

The Board denied service connection for post-operative shoulder impingements, residuals of cervical spine decompression surgery, and a skin disorder presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was granted for residuals of cervical spine decompression.

The Board found no CUE in the January 1967 rating decision that denied service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine on an accrued basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability and residuals of sebaceous cysts of the face and ear lobes, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the cervical spine disability or any compensable evaluation prior to July 12, 2001. The veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not service connected and his claim for increased evaluation of dorsal spine disability with low back pain syndrome was denied.

The veteran's unauthorized medical treatment from September 30 to October 2, 2001 was paid by Medicare and there is no balance due. Therefore, the claim for payment or reimbursement of this cost is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple issues, including his psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, right knee disorder, left knee arthritis, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, lung disease (asbestosis), and hypertension. The Board found that new evidence did not reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied all other claims.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability and headaches, as well as the reopening of a right knee disability claim. The veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's initial increased disability ratings for her service-connected cervical strain with right shoulder involvement and chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease secondary to trauma have been denied.,Her PTSD has also been denied an increased rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further hearing and review.