The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current back and neck disabilities, including cervical spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's service treatment records document multiple reports of back pain/strains, a 1976 motor vehicle accident, and a 1982 lifting incident; VA outpatient treatment records; the December 2009 VA examination report; and any other relevant information will be considered.
The deciding factor: The Board requires an additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back and neck disabilities are related to his service or service-connected left knee disability, as the previous examiner's opinion is not adequate for rating purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, neck disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2012
- Citation
- 1218390
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 1218390.
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.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, hip, and lower extremity disabilities due to a lack of VA examination and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses and lay statements will be considered in determining if his conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a neck disability due to pre-decisional error in not obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion.
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