Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and thoracic spine, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic acquired variously diagnosed cervical spine disorder was incurred in active service, and thus granted her claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar muscle spasm is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability. The TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the appellant's currently diagnosed respiratory disorder, back disability, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 29, 1990 for service connection of PTSD and TDIU based on his service-connected conditions. The veteran appealed these decisions.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and compensable evaluation for scars of the left eyebrow and chin prior to August 30, 2002 were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for scars after August 30, 2002 was also denied.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for the veteran's service-connected chronic cervical strain with limitation of motion from 30 percent to 20 percent was not proper and ordered restoration of the 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, chloracne, prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety), sinusitis, cervical spine myositis, and lumbar spine myositis were denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's cervical spine disability, effective from March 1995. The head injury with headaches is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, finding no evidence linking it to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized as degenerative disc disease with herniated nucleus pulposus, has been granted an increased evaluation to 30 percent effective September 26, 2003. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia, bronchitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, generalized degenerative joint disease, and cervical spine disability were denied. The veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability was also denied as secondary to back disability.,The veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of pneumonia and bronchitis prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a 20% evaluation prior to September 23, 2002. The claim for hearing loss in the left ear is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for his cervical spine disability, finding that it did not occur during active military service and thus is not covered by VA benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU, finding that VA had properly assigned the August 25, 1999 effective date based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for his right shoulder disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a direct service connection. The claim for an increased rating was granted with a 10 percent disability rating effective April 1, 1990.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal standards and a need for further examination.