Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disability was aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The cervical spine degenerative changes are also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a cervical strain and an upper back injury are granted, as there is sufficient evidence to support these conditions were incurred during his military service.

The veteran's cervical and lumbar spondylosis were found to be incurred in service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions. However, the bilateral leg disability was not found to be related to service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability characterized as myositis, trapezius muscle strain, and subluxation at C5. The Board has ordered additional development to clarify the date of any automobile accidents and obtain treatment records related thereto.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, effective April 1, 1992.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, including whether they are related to service or pre-existing post-polio syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal concerning his service connection claims for residuals of strain to the left rhomboid muscles and cervical spine disability is dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant. The issues are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome and severe limitation of the lumbar spine with demonstrable deformity of a vertebral body resulting from a fractured vertebra, is rated at 60 percent. His cervical spine disability, characterized by severe limitation of motion, is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbosacral degenerative diseases are proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine stenosis with degenerative disc disease and set the effective date to April 28, 1986. The veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and considering revised rating criteria.

The veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the higher initial rating for cervical strain before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cervical discectomy with radiculopathy of the upper right extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and tremors of the lower extremities. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for cervical spine disability, and that there was no current evidence linking the veteran's hearing loss or tremors to service.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected chronic pyoderma with cervical adenopathy is being remanded due to the need for VCAA compliance and additional development of medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability, finding no direct evidence of its onset during active service and insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection based on her pre-existing psychiatric disorder. The Board also noted that there was no compensable arthritis in the neck within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of the record and VCAA compliance issues.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of his cervical spine disability and assessing the current level of impairment due to his low back strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, scar on the back of the neck, and scar on the left forearm were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also not related to his period of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and restoration of a previously granted disability rating, finding that there was no factual basis to grant these requests.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development of evidence, including verification of the veteran's involvement in a motor vehicle accident while serving in Germany.