The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and an initial compensable evaluation for thoracolumbar strain prior to September 11, 2010. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development.
The deciding factor: Insufficient opinions were provided regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his cervical spine arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of multiple joints, cervical neck strain
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2013
- Citation
- 1313237
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 1313237.
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 granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed all other appeals related to various joint conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, cervical neck strain, left knee with torn meniscus, and erectile dysfunction are denied.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is remanded as there was a duty to assist error in failing to obtain an opinion regarding cannabis use disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, arthritis of the lower back, and cervical neck strain due to inadequate medical opinions in the March 2025 rating decision. The claims are being returned for further development.
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.