The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions provided in his April 2010 VA examination. Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records from both VA and private sources.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the April 2010 VA examiner's opinion was not sufficiently detailed or based on a thorough review of the Veteran's claims file to determine whether his current disabilities are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease cervical spine s/p C5-7 fusion, degenerative disc disease lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 14, 2017
- Citation
- 1721703
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 1721703.
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 Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death.
- Partly granted
The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and granted a 20 percent rating for the left ankle disability, while denying all other claims.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability and a higher rating for his left shoulder disability is granted, effective July 23, 2013. The May 2014 decision denying these claims based on CUE is revised.
- Dismissed
Your previously restored 40 percent rating for scoliosis, diffuse degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease lumbar spine is dismissed as moot because the claim has been granted.
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