Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for myalgia of the paraspinous lumbar muscles and denied an increased evaluation for herniated disc of the cervical spine, but allowed restoration of a previously assigned 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for a cervical spine condition, low back condition, anal fissures, and anxiety disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation training.

The veteran's special monthly compensation at the housebound rate was granted from August 11, 1997 to September 30, 1998 due to his service-connected right total hip replacement. The appeal for this benefit is denied as of September 30, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and hypertension due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine and low back disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pterygia. Service connection is denied for otitis externa and Eustachian tube dysfunction, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and dermatitis.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and sebaceous cysts of the back as not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor attributable to an incident of service. The veteran's claims were also denied for sinusitis due to lack of evidence showing current disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not submit an adequate substantive appeal regarding his claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability to include trapezius spasm, and therefore lacks jurisdiction to consider this issue.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's dysthymic disorder and cervical spine disorder, but denied service connection for a skin rash. The initial evaluation of duodenitis remains at 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine strain did not warrant a compensable evaluation, as there were no objective findings of significant disability. For Graves' disease, the Board determined that the condition was stable with controlled medication, without any thyroid gland dysfunction or other adverse symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected cervical strain with headaches is currently evaluated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5293. The claim for increased rating of low back pain was remanded due to the need for an etiological opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected low back pain and nonservice-connected DDD.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine effective February 29, 2000.

The Board has remanded the case due to a significant change in the law and incomplete development of evidence. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected arthritis, including glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus, is pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for compound hyperopic astigmatism, somatic dysfunction of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, bronchial pneumonia, and macular degeneration with early cataracts.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected disabilities.,The veteran's multiple shell fragment wound scars have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of status post C5-C6 anterior cervical diskectomy fusion with left iliac graft is granted. However, her request to reopen a claim for lumbar spine injuries was denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The issue is now on its merits.

The Board has granted service connection for maxillary sinusitis and the veteran's bilateral wrist condition (carpal tunnel syndrome). The issue of service connection for inguinal hernia remains unresolved.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and an increased rating for residuals of a sacroiliac injury are pending. The RO denied the veteran's claim for service connection, but granted him a 20 percent disability rating for his existing condition.