Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's current cervical spine disability to include cervical strain and degenerative joint disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service nor may degenerative joint disease be presumed to have so been incurred.

The medical evidence shows that the veteran is able to feed, dress, bathe, and clothe himself, does not need assistance on a regular basis in protecting himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment, and is able to care for 'the wants of nature'. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for higher level of special monthly compensation based on the need for the aid and attendance of another person.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his cervical and thoracic spine disabilities with degenerative changes, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right lower extremity disability, thoracic spine disability, lumbar spine disability, multiple joint or systemic arthritis or arthritic like conditions, cervical spine disability, upper extremities disability, allodynia, osteopenia and osteoporosis, autoimmune disease, connective tissue disease, left knee disability, respiratory disorder, gastrointestinal disability, glaucoma, meibomian cystic infection of the left upper eyelid, blepharitis and chalazion, and urinary tract infections.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine condition is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have current disabilities of head injury or back and neck injuries that are related to service. The evidence does not show any in-service injury, and there is no medical documentation linking current symptoms to service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed psychiatric, low back, and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have arthritis of the right shoulder or cervical spine, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected cervical strain with degenerative changes is currently rated at 40 percent, effective October 15, 1994.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine disability, right knee chondromalacia and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, left knee chondromalacia and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, right sacroiliac joint arthritis of pelvic fracture residuals, and left sacroiliac joint arthritis of pelvic fracture residuals.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the grants of service connection for degenerative disease of the cervical spine, gait disturbance of the right lower extremity, and gait disturbance of the left lower extremity cannot be earlier than September 24, 1992 as there is no indication from the record of a claim or reopened claim prior to that date.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical and thoracic spine disabilities are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a compression fracture with minor malunion, and traumatic arthritis at L4.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for right shoulder rotator cuff repair and a back disorder, to include arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine. The evidence presented is considered new and material, allowing the claims to be reviewed on their merits.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection for PTSD and back injuries, as well as reopening of a claim for sinusitis, rhinitis and a deviated nasal septum were denied. The veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5287 for ankylosis. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be so disabling as to render him unable to care for his daily personal needs or protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living, without regular assistance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is service-connected, but his shoulder disability is not.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's cervical myositis, mild foramina stenosis at C4 to C5 and C5 to C6. The current evaluation remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cervical spine disorders are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.