Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder and right arm/hand numbness, but granted increased ratings for left hip total replacement and left ulnar neuropathy.

The veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his facial scar are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and a back condition, and has awarded a 10 percent rating for headaches. The veteran's claims are based on direct evidence of his conditions rather than any presumption or secondary relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of arthritis of the cervical spine, but denied the claim on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for basic eligibility for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30 and an extension of the delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 1606, finding that she did not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to incomplete service medical records and other evidence. The veteran is seeking service connection for low back strain and cervical degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU, finding that no evidence supported a prior effective date due to lack of timely submission of claims and unemployability during the year before November 28, 1997.

The VA did not cause additional disability to the veteran's cervical spine or nasal condition due to their medical treatment in October 1996. The Board found no evidence of additional disability resulting from the VA treatment.

The veteran's representative contends that he has a cervical spine disorder and related headaches stemming from injuries sustained in service. The VA neurological consultation noted the veteran sustained injuries to his back and neck as a result of a helicopter crash during military service, leading to diagnoses of cervical degenerative and posttraumatic arthritis. The Board finds further examination is required prior to final decision.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled hearing and the need to issue a statement of the case regarding a claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right shoulder and cervical spine conditions were not caused or aggravated by treatment provided at a VA medical facility in April 1993, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding the veteran's cervical spine disability. The case is now being sent back for additional examination and consideration.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal as to his claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine due to a previous grant of service connection in 1983. The RO is referred to consider his increased rating claim for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bronchitis and emphysema, as well as service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, are not supported by the evidence of record. The preponderance of the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his bronchitis and emphysema, nor is there a causal link between his current carpal tunnel syndrome and service.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is not considered a separate condition from his service-connected lumbar disc disease.,There is no evidence of a left hip disorder that is distinct from or related to the service-connected lumbar disc disease. The veteran's hip pain is attributed to his back disability.,The veteran's leg pain, including in the legs and knees, is considered part of his service-connected low back disability.,The veteran's left knee disorder is not a separate condition but rather an extension of his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and notification of changes in spine evaluation criteria. The issue remains about entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current right or left ankle disability, and the preponderance of the competent medical evidence was against a finding that his bilateral knee disorder and polyarthralgias with autoimmune inflammatory disease and probable early ankylosing spondylitis are causally related to active service.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was granted, effective August 1, 2003. The appeal for an earlier effective date is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's request to waive recovery of an overpayment of $2,000 in non-service connected pension benefits due to his fault in not reporting concurrent receipt of Social Security benefits.

The veteran's application for Supplemental Service Disabled Veterans' (RH) Insurance was denied because his application was received after he reached the age of 65, which is a requirement under VA regulations.