Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury, right shoulder disability, and neck disability. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for residuals of a head injury.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for pancreatitis and malnutrition, cervical spine disability, and duodenal ulcer with gastritis due to a lack of timely filed substantive appeal. The lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The claims for service connection for residuals of degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine are denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for head injuries, cervical spine, or lumbar spine disabilities. The veteran's complaints were not chronic and no current disability was shown.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected, and his lumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Board has remanded the issue of total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of cervical spine dislocation warrant a 20 percent rating, effective from August 14, 2001.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disorder, which he attributes to an inservice injury. The Board finds there are additional records needed and remands the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a cervical spine disorder, and arthritis of the knees and legs. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were related to his military service.

The veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with radiculopathy, alleging medical negligence by VA doctors during a left C6/C7 hemilaminectomy and nerve root decompression surgery in July 2001 at the Durham, North Carolina VA Medical Center. The claim is remanded due to incomplete records from SSA and the VA Medical Center.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a personal hearing at the RO before a Decision Review Officer.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized by pain and stiffness with severe limitation of motion, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his lay testimony regarding the stressors he experienced during his service in Saudi Arabia is accepted as conclusive evidence of their occurrence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or were aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The right shoulder disability claim is pending, the cervical spine disability issue was not addressed due to lack of timely notice of disagreement, and the hemorrhoids claim remains unresolved.

The Board found no relationship between the service-connected thoracic spine disability and either a cervical or lumbar spine disability, thus denying both claims for secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his cervical spine disorder and arthralgia of the right ilium with large exostoses, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a neck disorder and granted an increased evaluation for right shoulder subluxation and snapping. The left shoulder disability is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding it was incurred during service. The claims for headaches, right eye disorder, and left leg disorder are remanded for further development.