Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis at the C3-4 and C4-5 levels is currently rated as 30 percent disabling due to moderate limitation of motion, pain, and fatigue. The lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to slight limitation of motion.

The Board found that the veteran's left eye condition existed prior to service and increased in severity during service. The arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spines were not shown within one year after separation from service, thus denying presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and hemorrhoids. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical disc disease is attributable to service and her claim for right shoulder rotator cuff injury can be reopened. The veteran's current right shoulder disability is not supported by competent evidence, and retroactive payment of clothing allowance for 1988 through 1995 based on applications submitted in February 1997 is not provided for by law.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review of the merits of the veteran's claim for an increased rating for folliculitis of the scalp with cervical lymphadenopathy, including a request for additional medical evidence and consideration of whether other areas are affected by the disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and disability of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions are secondary to the veteran's service-connected thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied because there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions, and the decision of June 22, 1987 did not contain such error.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, hypertension, and sinus disorder are not well-grounded. The veteran's hallux valgus deformity of the right foot is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5280, and her residuals of a tonsillectomy do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are well-grounded and meet the criteria for a 30% evaluation. The claims for fibromyalgia and residuals of a neck injury (including DDD of the cervical spine) have been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder and a skin disorder are well-grounded. The claim for a back disorder is granted, while the claim for a skin disorder remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and entitlement to dependent's educational assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code due to a lack of evidence linking his conditions to his military service.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, COPD, neck injury residuals, lumbar strain, chronic non-specific dermatitis, and scars from cervical traction have been granted. The effective date for the COPD rating increase is April 30, 1998.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities do not warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent or restoration to a 20 percent evaluation, respectively.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of the veteran's cervical spine disability and for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Board found that the evidence did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture due to the service-connected cervical spine disability, and thus denied submission of an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for the claimed disabilities, including arthritis of the right shoulder, low back, cervical spine, and both knees. The gout of the right foot was not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The evidence shows that the veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his service-connected right knee disorder, causing him to favor his left leg and resulting in low back pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, to include degenerative joint disease (DJD), as secondary to his right shoulder disability and an increased rating for arthritis of the right shoulder. The decision is final.

The veteran's disabilities, including a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, degenerative arthritis of the knees, hemorrhoids, COPD, and glaucoma, meet the criteria for a combined rating of 70 percent. The veteran is therefore considered unemployable due to her disabilities.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with left shoulder radiculopathy and thoracic outlet syndrome, finding that his symptoms are most accurately characterized by the criteria set forth for this condition.