Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder. The Board also determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's cervical spine disability, including whether it is related to his active service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The veteran's combined nonservice-connected disability rating is 80%, and he does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his ability to dress, undress, feed himself, attend to the wants of nature, and protect himself from daily hazards without assistance.

The veteran's meralgia paresthetica affecting the right hip and thigh regions was found to have originated during service, resulting in a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of partial removal of the right first rib and cervical spine disability, but the status of these determinations is marked as 'unknown' due to insufficient information in the provided text.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and cervical disc disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has restored service connection for L5-S1 radiculopathy secondary to cervical and lumbar myositis. It also granted increased ratings for cervical and lumbar myositis, with the highest rating of 40% effective from March 17, 2003.

The VA denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, shortness of breath, skin disorders, sleep disorder, migraine headaches, watery eyes, right knee chondromalacia, cervical spine disability, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and benign posterior auricular node are denied. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that arthritis of the cervical spine was incurred in active service and granted the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint diseases of the lumbosacral, cervical, and thoracic spines are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for various disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to link these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his thoracic spine disability was denied. His application to reopen a claim of service connection for respiratory disability, including asthma and bronchitis, was granted. Service connection was established for degenerative disc disease at L5-L6 and L6-S1 as secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine disability. However, the veteran's cervical spine disability was not found to be related to or aggravated by his service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to incomplete VA records, inadequate VCAA notice, and the need for a VA examination.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including a left foot disability, low back disability, cervical spine disability, and residuals of a closed head injury. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain relevant medical records and provide the veteran with an examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and consider both old and new criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 24, 1992 for service connection of his cervical spine and lower extremity disabilities.,The RO had previously granted service connection for these conditions with effective dates from December 15, 1994.