Neck / cervical spine Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with wedging of C5, effective from March 1998. The veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 8045.

The Board has determined that the claim of entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a C1-C2 posterior fusion resulting from an odontoid fracture is not well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, anxiety disorder, and cervical spine disorders were not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection due to undiagnosed illnesses were not well grounded and denied them.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's cervical spine disorder, effective from September 1997. The current rating is based on moderate intervertebral disc syndrome with minor radicular symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine warrants a 10 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5290.

The Board has denied reopening the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and has also denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The decision is mixed, with some issues granted and others not.

The veteran's claims for service connection of cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not well grounded.,His claim for increased evaluation of his status post left medial thigh injury is granted, with a current rating of 10%.,His claim for an increase in the evaluation of his status post repair of left femoral artery remains denied.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board found that the appellant's lumbar, cervical, and dorsal spine disorders were not incurred in service or as a result of his service-connected bilateral knee synovitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and sleep apnea, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for an increased rating for gastric ulcer disease was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, with superior displacement of the distal clavicle; degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, with limitation of motion; and degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for a compensable evaluation for degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracic spine was also denied.,The Board found that the appellant's service-connected right shoulder disability is primarily manifested by recurrent complaints of pain, without evidence of limitation of motion of the arm or limitation of motion of the arm to 25 degrees from the side. The cervical spine disability does not show more than slight limitation of motion. The lumbar spine disability shows no more than slight impairment with no evidence of muscle spasm on extreme forward bending, loss of lateral spine motion, unilateral, in standing position. The thoracic spine disability is manifested by complaints of pain in the thoracic region.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and hiatal hernia disabilities have been denied. The RO has determined that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is not well-grounded, and therefore denied.

The Board has determined that further evidentiary development is needed, including determining the nature of the veteran's cattle farming operation and obtaining additional evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities. The claims for increased evaluations for coronary artery disease with hypertension and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine will be addressed separately.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the cervical spine and found that a higher rating is warranted for lumbosacral disc disease with sciatica. The effective date remains to be determined.

The Board found that the appellant's cervical disc disease and PTSD were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected hemorrhoid and gynecological conditions, finding that the current disability ratings are appropriate.

The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder and cervical spine disabilities are not related to her period of military service, thus denying her claims for service connection.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for a cervical spine disorder, but the effective date and rating need to be determined by the RO. The veteran's total unemployability benefit is also under consideration.