The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability due to inadequate reasoning in the previous decision and the need for an adequate medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The July 2017 Board decision was based on a negative nexus opinion from a VA examiner, which is now deemed insufficient given the inconsistency between the rationale and observations. The Joint Motion for Remand requested that the claim be remanded to obtain an adequate etiology opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine (neck) disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19115721
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 19115721.
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 service connection for multiple disabilities, including a right hip disability, left ankle disability, right trigger finger disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, cervical spine (neck) disability, lumbar spine (back) disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction. The appeal was dismissed for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder due to the grant of an unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a right forehead scar and remanded the claims for service connection of various other disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine (neck) disability based on new and relevant evidence provided by the Veteran.
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