Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher initial rating of 60 percent is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders, as well as evaluations for the left knee and skin disorders. The veteran's claims were not granted.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including dyshidrosis of the hands and feet, headaches, weight gain, degenerative joint disease, loss of memory, weakness and lack of energy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and cellulitis of the left lower extremity with a scar, are not related to his active service or due to an undiagnosed illness. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding that new evidence did not reopen his low back disorder claim and that arthritis of the right leg, cervical spine disorder, and psychiatric disorder were not related to service or a service-connected condition. The residuals of a right ankle sprain were rated at 20%.

The Board has determined that the cervical spine disorder was caused by the veteran's own willful misconduct during service, and therefore, does not warrant service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a head injury and cervical strain, finding that there are no current residuals of these conditions as incurred in active military service.

The Board found that there is no direct relationship between the veteran's cervical spine disorder and service, nor has his service-connected lumbar disability caused or aggravated it. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to a lack of competent evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic cervical spine disorder and increased evaluations for his low back syndrome and left clavicular fracture residuals, finding that there was no evidence of such disorders during active service or within one year of separation. The Board also found that the current disabilities did not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disability and seizure disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The back and neck disabilities are also not established as being related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not show that any of his claimed conditions began or worsened during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current cervical or lumbar disc disease, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for residuals of a right ankle injury, but denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine as there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability, including her C6 radiculopathy and global C5-T1 motor loss, was aggravated by a fall she experienced during active duty training on June 2, 1994. As such, service connection is granted for these residuals.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and headaches due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to procedural issues and to obtain additional medical records, including from Social Security Administration. The claims of service connection for a cervical spine condition and entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits are also pending.

The Board found that the veteran's current joint disorders, including cervical spine and lumbosacral spine conditions, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The medical evidence did not link any chronic back disorder to an incident in service. Service connection for defective vision was also denied.

The Board has determined that the avulsion injury of the right middle finger and cervical spine disorder are directly related to service, with consideration given to the veteran's inservice injuries. The Board finds in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for service-connected degenerative and osteoarthritic changes of the cervical spine, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux are being remanded due to a lack of adequate development.