The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: There is evidence suggesting worsening of the service-connected thoracic spine disability since the last VA examination, and a new examination is necessary to determine its current severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 28, 2014
- Citation
- 1413210
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 1413210.
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 claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, left ankle disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left heel disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability has been denied.
- Granted
The claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine and lumbar spine strain with bilateral sacroiliitis is granted. The issues of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disability, arthritis of the left hip, and arthritis of the right hip are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and established by continuity of symptoms since service.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder as new and material evidence was not submitted.
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