The Board has decided to remand the case for an additional VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disabilities, including whether they are related to service-connected degenerative arthritis residuals of acromioclavicular separation, right shoulder.
The deciding factor: The previous opinions were inadequate due to lack of addressing all questions posed by the Board’s previous remand and the examiner being a podiatrist rather than an orthopedist.
- Claimed conditions
- post-operative cervical spondylosis and stenosis, cervical spondylosis and stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18145217
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 18145217.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorders, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, COPD, GERD, gastroparesis, diverticulosis, rhinitis, OSA, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder have been granted. The claims are based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to noise during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative cervical spondylosis and stenosis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification, including an opinion on whether his condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary development has been completed.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.