The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. An additional VA examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of his cervical spine disability, specifically whether he has a current diagnosis of right upper extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's testimony suggests that his disability may have worsened and an additional examination is needed to determine if he currently has a diagnosis of right upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine fusion, right arm radicular pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2018
- Citation
- 1801017
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 1801017.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and TDIU due to unverified periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT), as well as a lack of complete service treatment records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spine fusion due to missing evidence and an improperly filed initial claim.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of cervical spine surgery, cervical canal stenosis, and cervical spine fusion is granted due to the presence of additional disability caused by VA treatment without proper informed consent.
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