The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a disability of the thoracic spine and remanded it for further development.
The deciding factor: New evidence submitted by the appellant, including medical records from private physicians, was found to be significant enough to reopen the previously denied claim. Additional development is needed to determine the origin of the appellant's current thoracic spinal complaints and confirm previous findings of spurring during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2001
- Citation
- 0113640
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0113640.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeals of entitlement to service connection for various shoulder, cervical spine, ankle, knee, hip, and thoracic spine disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing. The right ear disability appeal is also dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and femoral nerve impairment due to inadequate medical examinations and lack of clarity regarding whether ankylosis is present.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for pes planus and thoracic spine service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by service or related to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the complete service records have not been obtained and a remand is necessary to obtain them. Additionally, a VA examination with an opinion is needed to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, right foot, thoracic spine, and shoulder disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.