Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claim, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need to consider the application of new spine rating criteria and to obtain updated medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted an effective date of May 29, 1996 for the grant of service connection for post-traumatic cervical spondylosis with upper extremity neuropathy. The veteran's claim for higher ratings was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected squamous metaplasia hyperkeratosis, cervical stenosis, and condyloma, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to VCAA notification and regulatory changes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and training benefits, finding that he has overcome the effects of impairment of unemployability through employment in an occupation consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The VA determined that the appellant's current neck disability is not related to his military service and specifically ruled out any connection to his service-connected nasal trauma with septorhinoplasty. The Board found no evidence of a direct or secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his right elbow and shoulder injuries, as well as his claims to reopen service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities. The RO had previously denied these claims in October 1993.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right elbow epicondylitis and cervical spine disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and neck disability, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 20 percent under the amended schedule for rating spine disabilities, effective from September 23, 2002. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral arm and hand disorder, and bilateral knee and leg disorder. The RO previously denied these claims in October 1998 on both a direct and secondary basis.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was untimely filed.

The Board found no evidence of current cervical or lumbar degenerative joint disease, and denied service connection for these conditions. Service connection was also denied for systemic lupus erythematosus due to lack of a current disability.

The veteran is currently shown to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, and a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, increased ratings for his cervical spine and pes planus disabilities, and initial noncompensable rating and current 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted and assigned initial ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, depression, and a shoulder condition. The claim of whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for plantar wart, left foot, is dismissed due to withdrawal by the veteran.