Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes, as they are not severe enough to prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current disabilities and his military service or any service-connected condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to compliance issues with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and a need for additional development, including scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for pelvic pain due to ovarian fibroids, low back disorder, cervical strain and bilateral knee disorders, as well as the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches. The case is remanded for further development regarding Graves' disease with orbitopathy.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and granted an increased evaluation to 50% for PTSD, effective from January 2004.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date were denied. The appeal of the November 1983 rating decision regarding service connection for allergies, asthma, and arthritis was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that it was decided on the merits without involving any new evidence or a presumption.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The reasons given were that the veteran repeatedly failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations and MRI appointments without providing good cause.

The Board found that the veteran's neck disability, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and cervical syringomyelia, was not related to his active service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including review of new rating criteria for spine and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board granted an effective date of May 31, 1986 for the veteran's service connection for organic mood disorder secondary to brain trauma, which was retroactive to August 12, 1989.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds in the cervical region affecting Muscle Group XXII is granted, with a current evaluation of 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disorder (chronic sinusitis) and residuals of renal cell cancer have been granted. The Board is unsure about the status of his cervical spine disability claim, but secondary service connection has been established for peripheral vascular disease affecting both lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right elbow disability is service-connected and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a cervical spine disorder based on VA medical treatment is granted.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a back injury sustained during military service. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for an examination to determine if his current spine disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and upper back disabilities, finding that new evidence submitted since the January 1972 rating decision is sufficient to reopen these claims. The RO will now proceed with a determination on whether service connection should be granted.

The veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for scar, left forehead and service connection for residuals of a head injury (other than a forehead scar) and DDD of the cervical spine and lumbosacral disc bulge were denied. The veteran's claim for GERD was not addressed as it may be related to his service-connected headaches. Service connection claims for hypertension and nerves were also denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating required for pension purposes. The veteran has multiple disabilities but can still engage in substantial gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU rating were denied. His service-connected conditions include PTSD with anxiety neurosis, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, acne, right ureteral calculus, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and hiatal hernia.