The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and muscle spasms of the cervical spine, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to service-connected temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). The VA examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that substantial compliance with its prior remand was not achieved due to deficiencies in the previous medical opinions, particularly regarding the relationship between the service-connected TMJ disability and the claimed cervical spine disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, Muscle spasms of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2018
- Citation
- 18140354
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 18140354.
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 service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The AOJ is required to obtain new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities prior to October 22, 2008 are being remanded due to the need for additional retrospective medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
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