Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for arthritis of the cervical spine was dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased evaluation, finding that there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim for service connection prior to January 4, 1991.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a bone, joint, muscle, ligament, nerve, or physical stress disability that is service-connected. The preponderance of evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to service or his service-connected compression fracture of the 12th dorsal vertebra.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly DIC based on being housebound due to her disabilities, finding that she was not substantially confined to her home or immediate premises.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a separate neck/cervical spine disability other than the already service-connected cervical strain with arthritis, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine as secondary to his service-connected laryngeal carcinoma, finding that there is no evidence supporting a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, right knee and left knee disabilities, and an eye disability. The decision is final.

The Board has determined that the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from July 1, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis of knees or hips. Therefore, the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle with special adaptive equipment are not met.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since July 1, 2001. The arthritis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent effective from April 23, 1993. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability and service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disorders, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine and bilateral shoulder disabilities are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative changes of the cervical spine were incurred during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's cervical spine disability, including retained metallic foreign bodies from a gunshot wound, is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5293 for intervertebral disc syndrome. The RO has increased the rating to 30 percent effective July 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and a neck and cervical spine disorder, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of chronic sinusitis. The cervical spine disability was not shown until after service separation, and there is no presumption or other basis for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic cardiac disorder, including cardiomegaly and hypertensive heart disease. The veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the claim was received in December 8, 1993 and no prior informal claim existed within one year prior.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of evidence, including consideration of service connection for cervical kyphosis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media, cervical spine disability, vertigo, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar and dorsal spine. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.