The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a cervical spine disability, claimed as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The AOJ must schedule him for a VA examination to determine whether his current cervical spine disability is related to an in-service injury during boot camp in 1974.,The Veteran claims service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, adjustment disorder, and PTSD. He also seeks service connection for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease, hairy cell leukemia (secondary to herbicide exposure), a left ankle disability, a right leg disability, and a left leg disability.,The Veteran asserts entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The AOJ must schedule him for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability.,,,,,
The deciding factor: The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED as additional development is required, including obtaining updated VA treatment records from various VAMCs, scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability, and scheduling him for a video conference hearing at the RO.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, Cervical spine disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2016
- Citation
- 1640176
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 1640176.
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 service-connected cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent prior to January 13, 2022. Effective March 18, 2020, the Veteran is granted TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for brain cancer, low back disability, and cervical spine disability due to a pre-decisional error in failing to obtain a radiation dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health. The Veteran's military service aboard USS ENTERPRISE is considered relevant to his exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine condition had its onset in service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.
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