The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for chiari malformation, increases in ratings for psychiatric disability and radiculopathy conditions, as well as increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder tendonitis, and cervicogenic headaches. The case is being remanded to allow the Veteran to schedule a hearing and for issuance of an SOC regarding the rating for cervicogenic headaches.
The deciding factor: The appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for chiari malformation, increases in ratings for psychiatric disability and radiculopathy conditions, as well as increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder tendonitis, and cervicogenic headaches. The case is being remanded to allow the Veteran to schedule a hearing and for issuance of an SOC regarding the rating for cervicogenic headaches.
- Claimed conditions
- chiari malformation, cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), right shoulder tendonitis, cervicogenic headaches
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2015
- Citation
- 1511940
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 1511940.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected left shoulder tendonitis, right shoulder tendonitis, left knee tendonitis, and right elbow tendinitis (impairment of supination and pronation) have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected right elbow tendinitis (limitation of flexion) has also been denied.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder tendonitis were denied. The effective date of service connection for the right shoulder tendonitis was granted on May 1, 2023, but no earlier. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder disability, major depressive disorder, and right ankle sprain are being remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for effective dates of July 7, 2022 for service connection for cervical condition and associated left and right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy conditions as well as cervicogenic headaches.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, diagnosed as cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), on a direct basis. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of onset in service and continuity of symptoms.
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