The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has provided testimony indicating that his service-connected conditions have worsened, necessitating a new examination to determine their current severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disk disease, with degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, Degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2018
- Citation
- 1800228
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1800228.
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: Denied
The Board denied a disability rating greater than 30 percent for degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant an increased disability rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine prior to January 8, 2019 is currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine is related to service, specifically an in-service motor vehicle accident. Service connection for this condition is granted.
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.