Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's headaches and chronic cervical strain are related to injuries sustained in a 1958 motor vehicle accident during service, granting his claims for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the cause of any disabilities resulting from treatment at a VA facility in Boston, Massachusetts in July 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a tumor and cyst of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence to support his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, PTSD, and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic headache disability, cervical spine disorder, and hearing loss. The veteran's headaches began during his active military duty but were not found to be related to service. His cervical spine disorder was determined to be congenital and not associated with service. His hearing loss was also not found to be related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar strain, left shoulder disorder, and chronic headaches are service-connected. The respiratory, sinus, and knee disorders have not been established as service-connected.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the January 1981 rating decision denying service connection for a cervical compression fracture was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus granting the claim based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's conditions, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, are service-connected for wrists, ankles, elbows, hips, and neck disabilities. The right knee disability is also service-connected. However, the veteran does not have chronic fatigue syndrome or asthmatic bronchitis.

The Board finds that the veteran's cervical spine disability, including arthritis, is service-connected and grants a rating of 40 percent. The psychiatric disability claim is denied. The right thoracic outlet syndrome is granted restoration to a 20 percent rating.

The veteran does not have disabilities involving the head, neck or back as a result of an injury, or aggravation of an injury, attributable to a December 1998 VA shuttle van incident. Therefore, his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The case is being remanded for additional development and initial RO consideration of the new evidence. The veteran's notice of disagreement on residuals of left eye trauma has been placed in appellate status, so a statement of the case must be issued.

The veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, reopening of service connection claims for arthritis of the cervical spine and residuals of a back injury were denied. The effective date for the grant of PTSD was set at October 15, 2004.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for cervical spine disability, as well as his service connection claims for thoracic spine disorder, nerve damage to both lower extremities, pes planus, plantar warts of the feet with callous formation and residual scars, and bilateral hip disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities or new and material evidence to reopen previously denied claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine and shoulder disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the Veterans' Compensation Act (38 U.S.C.A. § 1151) for complications resulting from a cervical spine surgery performed at a VA Medical Center in June 2001. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if there are any new disabilities due to the surgery.

The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and cervical spine during the entire period covered by this appeal.