The Veteran's claims for service connection and a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected spina bifida of the sacrum are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The case is being remanded because there has been a material change in the Veteran's condition, specifically regarding his spine disability, warranting a new examination. Additionally, there is conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's neurological manifestations are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected spina bifida.
- Claimed conditions
- spina bifida of the sacrum, neurological manifestations of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2013
- Citation
- 1314297
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 1314297.
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 Veteran's service-connected spina bifida of the sacrum is associated with neurological disease of the lower extremities, which has been granted as secondary to his service-connected condition. The Veteran also received a 20% rating for his service-connected spina bifida.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board previously denied a separate rating for neurological manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected mild neuroforaminal narrowing with disc bulge at L2-5. The case is being remanded to consider whether there are associated neurological deficits and if so, whether they are related to the service-connected condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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