The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his thoracic spine disability and a new VA examination by a cardiologist to address the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).
The deciding factor: The claims are being remanded due to inadequacies in the extraschedular reasons and bases provided in the January 2014 Board decision, as well as for additional development related to the Veteran's thoracic spine disability and CAD.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2015
- Citation
- 1539008
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1539008.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The appeal pertaining to the thoracic spine disability is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a thoracic spine condition. The examiner did not address the Veteran’s in-service diagnosis of L5-S1 herniated disk and his vehicle rollover accident, which are relevant to determining the etiology of his current thoracic spine condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and costochondritis are found to be related to his active service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's request for a higher rating for his thoracic spine disability and has remanded the issues of SMC based on need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound prior to April 1, 2015, entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance from April 1, 2015, and TDIU.
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