The veteran's claim for service connection for thoracic strain with degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine is being remanded due to incomplete consideration of certain evidence, inadequate VCAA notice, and the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.
The deciding factor: Incomplete consideration of new evidence and inadequate VCAA notice are preventing a proper evaluation of the veteran's claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracic strain, degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2006
- Citation
- 0627381
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 0627381.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain, thoracic strain, and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, as well as a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. However, the Board granted service connection for radicular pain of both upper extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical strain.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for low back conditions, left hip condition, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a 50 percent rating for sinusitis as of August 22, 2022.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracic strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, but remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric condition due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for the remaining conditions, including hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues.
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.