Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board finds that the veteran's cervical spine arthritis and thoracic spine degenerative disease are related to his service, as evidenced by in-service symptoms and subsequent clinical findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected disabilities, including dry eyes with keratitis, hypertension, headaches, bronchitis, and sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for higher evaluations for his low back disorder, left ulnar nerve neuropathy, migraine headaches, and mood disorder with major depressive features. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder is pending. The appellant's irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease have not been granted a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected cervical and thoracic spine disabilities have been granted ratings of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, effective from June 2, 1998.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for neck and right shoulder disabilities. The issue is now remanded for further development.

For the period from October 9, 1992 to April 21, 1995, the veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent.,From April 22, 1995 to October 21, 1996, a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability was granted.,For the period beginning October 22, 1996, a 30 percent rating for the cervical spine disability was assigned.,Since April 18, 2000, the veteran has been rated at 10 percent for his cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to a service-connected disability. The right shoulder injury residuals are currently manifested but do not warrant an increased rating.

The veteran's claim for reflex sympathetic dystrophy was denied. The claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, PTSD, and a back disorder were also denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings and extraschedular evaluations due to incomplete development of evidence, particularly regarding employment impact and neurological issues.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, bilateral flat feet, bilateral hand condition, and bilateral wrist condition as not well grounded. The veteran's cervical spine injury is believed to have occurred due to a fall caused by his service-connected scoliosis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that it was not well-grounded.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if additional disabilities, including diplopia and lower extremity function impairment, resulted from VA treatment for a herniated nucleus pulposus in July and August 1990.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or showing they prevented the veteran from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's conditions have not significantly changed and that uniform ratings are appropriate. The current evaluations for his service-connected conditions remain unchanged.

The veteran's disabilities, including his service-connected right testicle injury with epididymitis and nonservice-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and cervical spine, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and fibromyalgia, both currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability was denied because there is no evidence that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 10, 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical spine, left hip scar, and neck scar disabilities. The veteran was not granted any higher initial ratings.