The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issue on appeal due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder.
The deciding factor: There are conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s current cervical spine disorders are related to service, necessitating further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical sprain/strain syndrome, Cervical spondylosis, Degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18102674
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 18102674.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is incomplete and requires further clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, including two claimed inservice collision injuries.
- Granted
The Board has granted the readjudication of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, but denied the claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and breathing condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cervical spondylosis, right ankle disability, and upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their severity prior to September 6, 2024.,The Veteran's right lateral epicondylitis (limitation of pronation) and painful motion disabilities are also being remanded for additional examination to assess their severity prior to September 6, 2024. Effective dates will be granted upon resolution of these issues.
- Denied
The Veteran's application for PCAFC was denied because the evidence did not show that he needed personal care services due to an inability to perform ADLs or a need for supervision, protection, or instruction. The November 2022 decision by the VA found that his needs were temporary and would resolve within six months.
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