The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine the appropriate diagnoses of his cervical spine disabilities and whether additional disorders are present or secondary to the service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: Further factual development is required as the case was not fully adjudicated due to incomplete information and need for medical opinion regarding the veteran's claims.
- Claimed conditions
- fracture of cervical vertebra with traumatic arthritis and deformity, multilevel degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 29, 2005
- Citation
- 0509320
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0509320.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability should be remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as multilevel degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy, finding that it is related to his in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for spondylosis with diffuse degenerative arthritis and multilevel degenerative disc disease is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in October 2023.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for scoliosis and granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to military service.
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