Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's attempt to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the Columbia, South Carolina, Regional Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain and gastrointestinal reflux disease, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for degenerative changes of the cervical spine, effective from September 27, 1993. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for chondromalacia patella of the left knee remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The RO denied the appellant's claims for service connection and accrued benefits, but granted service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left ankle for accrued benefits purposes.

The veteran has an employment handicap and meets the criteria for basic entitlement to vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for hypertension with arteriosclerotic heart disease and degenerative changes of the cervical spine, finding that the law does not allow such a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the appellant's pre-existing condition worsened during active duty in the Persian Gulf. The other issues remain pending and will be addressed in the remand section.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The veteran is granted service connection for PTSD as it is found to be related to an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder and headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain, cervical spine disability, and left foot disability have been granted increased ratings to a total of 40 percent.

The veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Board has separated the issues of service connection for compression fracture of the cervical spine and crushed coccyx into two distinct claims. The veteran's claim for service connection for these conditions was denied as not well grounded, due to a lack of evidence showing an injury in service or continuity of symptomatology postservice.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's disability of the cervical spine, effective July 1998. The left shoulder disability remains at 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical strain did not start during service and is not related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's calluses on both feet are rated at 50% since the effective date of service connection. The cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10%. Both ratings remain unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical spine disability and headaches are not related to service, any incident of service, or an undiagnosed illness. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and a psychiatric disability. The issues were not resolved in favor of the veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for left footdrop and cervical disc disease as secondary to the veteran's service-connected thoracic and lumbar spine disability. The veteran is also entitled to a 60 percent evaluation for his service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available.