The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracic spine disability. The issues on appeal include an increased evaluation for his service-connected thoracic spine disability, as well as service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined with the need for updated medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his thoracic spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- right central and posterolateral T6-T7 disc herniation, left central T10-T11 disc herniation
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2014
- Citation
- 1411016
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 1411016.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination and a videoconference hearing. The claims for increased evaluation of thoracic spine disability and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with these issues.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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