The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated medical records. The issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine will be reconsidered after these actions.
The deciding factor: The case requires further examination and review due to the need for more contemporaneous evidence regarding the Veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine (neck), degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2013
- Citation
- 1326419
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 1326419.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and left knee traumatic arthritis have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a scheduled hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that it was incurred during active duty.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine (back) disability and remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities.
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