The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and neurological symptoms.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for additional evidence and clarification regarding the pre-service status of the Veteran's conditions and their relation to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine, Sensory neuropathy, Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18101917
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 18101917.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service and concluding that his current disabilities are more likely related to an in-service injury than to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, based on sciatic nerve impairment, is granted with a disability rating of 40 percent effective from March 4, 2023. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, based on femoral nerve impairment, is also granted with a disability rating of 20 percent effective from March 4, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board denied restoration of the 30 percent and 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity, respectively.
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