The Veteran seeks service connection for a spine disability, claimed both as directly related to service and as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examination.
The deciding factor: Incomplete medical history and need for clarification of etiology based on prior examinations without knowledge of events such as an in-service car accident and subsequent surgeries.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine, Thoracic spine, Lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2014
- Citation
- 1441973
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 1441973.
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 Board dismissed the appeals regarding proposed reductions in ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine conditions due to procedural issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received with respect to all the service connection claims on appeal. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, cervical spine, lumbar spine disability (including IVDS), right ankle, and right knee based on the evidence of record.
- Partly granted
The Board granted revision of the December 2018 rating decision that reduced the disability rating for lumbar spine from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective December 4, 2018, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The March 2015 rating decision that assigned a 10 percent rating for left shoulder disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for CUE.
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