The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and hip disability. The Veteran was last provided a VA examination relating to his service-connected disabilities in September 2014, nearly four years ago. In light of the Veteran’s assertions, new VA examinations are required so that the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities may be determined.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's assertions regarding the worsening of his service-connected disabilities necessitate additional evaluations to determine their current severity.
- Claimed conditions
- facet arthropathy, lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus of the cervical spine, residuals, dislocation and fracture, right hip, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2018
- Citation
- 18118295
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 18118295.
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 remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
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