Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, but denied it on the merits due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's spurring of C6-C7 with arthritis, claimed as neck stiffness. The cervical vertebral body deformity is rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional evidence and examination, including medical records from VA facilities and private doctors. The veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, while he was granted a compensable rating for his right fourth metacarpal fracture. His cervical strain and bilateral shoulder bursitis were not found to be related to service, but his left knee disorder is considered incurred in service.

The veteran's case is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. He requested a video or travel Board hearing due to his health issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and chiropractic care records. The veteran's claim will be reviewed again after these additional steps are taken.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical and thoracic spine disorder, resulting in a denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety neurosis with depression, arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine, and sensorineural hearing loss. The decision also denied entitlement to TDIU.

The VA has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, which includes traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc narrowing, does not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent.

The veteran's postoperative cervical intervertebral degenerative disc disease with fusion at C5-C6 is rated as 30 percent disabling under the schedular rating. The claim for a compensable initial rating for myalgia of the upper back was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated in service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's herniated and bulging discs of the cervical spine and postoperative residuals microdiscectomy on the L4-L5 are related to service, including inservice low back pain, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating assignments, finding that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen previously denied claims or establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for further examination. The veteran's claims for higher rating of his low back disorder, service connection for cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disorders are being reviewed.

The veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of his service connection claims. The RO must develop and adjudicate these new service connection issues before considering the TDIU issue.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for chronic left cervical strain and denied a higher rating for chronic muscular strain, left scapula trapezius, status post acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to higher initial evaluations for the veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current manifestations of his cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no evidence of a chronic disability related to his active duty service or any other basis for granting these claims.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a cervical spine disorder allegedly resulting from a VA hospitalization in December 1994. The case has been remanded to determine the relationship between the veteran's current cervical spine disorder and any negligence or fault on the part of VA treatment providers during that hospitalization.