Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's TDIU benefits were granted effective June 3, 1996, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran was granted a TDIU and increased evaluations for mechanical low back pain and postoperative residuals of cervical fusion at C5-C6 effective as of February 19, 1991.,An earlier effective date of October 29, 1996 is granted for the grant of a 40 percent evaluation for mechanical low back pain.

The Board denied the claim as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of rubella, fibromyalgia, discoid lupus, and spondylosis of the cervical and lumbar spine as secondary to rubella due to a lack of medical evidence supporting these claims.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of his cervical spine disorder, which he claimed was secondary to a gunshot wound injury. The RO found that there was no evidence linking the cervical condition to either the veteran's active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder, sleep disorder, sexual dysfunction, and headaches are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain, while his sleep disorder is attributed to a herniated disc at L5-S1 and cervical spine disorder.

The Board has granted separate evaluations for the veteran's service-connected right arm palsy and occipital headaches, but denied an increased evaluation for his residuals of a fracture of the cervical spine.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, finding that his ankylosing spondylitis of the entire spine and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disability, and Tse-Tse syndrome. The claim for hypertension on secondary basis is granted with a 30% evaluation.

The VA denied compensation benefits for additional disability of the cervical spine and a left shoulder disability as secondary to surgery and treatment at a VA medical facility from August to October 1991.

The Board granted an increased disability evaluation of 40 percent for the veteran's DJD of the cervical spine, effective September 30, 1991. The claim for a higher rating for the lumbar spine remains pending.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes due to her service-connected disabilities, as well as her other nonservice-connected conditions. The RO found that she did not meet the percentage requirements for a combined rating of 70% or more.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as clarification of his claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, but denied the claim as there is no evidence to support that the current spinal arthritis is related to the in-service head injury.

The veteran's back disability, characterized as residuals of a post-operative cervical spine injury with arthritis and intervertebral disease, is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that the veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities warranted a combined evaluation of 90 percent and granted restoration of his TDIU.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals, fracture, fusion, cervical spine. The scar at the bone donor site on the left hip remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left shoulder injury. The claim for secondary service connection for the cervical spine disability was denied.

The veteran's service-connected cervical strain resulted in moderate limitation of motion from January 25, 1995 to April 28, 1998. Effective from April 28, 1998, the disability picture more nearly approximated severe limitation of motion.