The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the January 2015 VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's neck condition was aggravated by his service-connected low back strain with degenerative disc disease.
The deciding factor: The prior examination did not provide sufficient rationale for its conclusion that the Veteran's neck condition was not aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1513628
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 1513628.
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 Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck disability and PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's neck and low back disabilities are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions were caused by his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective January 11, 2011. The Board finds that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for a right-hand trigger finger injury and degenerative disc disease of the neck.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's low back disability has increased in severity, and he contests the validity of a VA examination report. The Board finds that an accurate assessment is needed for both his current back disability and related issues.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.