The Veteran's mild spinal stenosis and degenerative changes of the cervical spine are being remanded for further evaluation due to inconsistencies in medical records and need for an addendum opinion.
The deciding factor: There is inconsistency between the Veteran’s reported history and current medical findings, necessitating a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine condition.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spinal stenosis, degenerative changes of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19129765
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 denied the claims for a temporary total convalescence rating and a compensable rating for the left foot condition, but remanded the claim for service connection for cervical spinal stenosis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, right wrist sprain, left wrist disability manifested by pain, left foot arthritis, right foot arthritis and hallux valgus, headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, right lateral epicondylitis (claimed as right arm disability), and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy (claimed as left arm disability and left elbow disability).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spinal stenosis to verify all periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), obtain private medical records, and schedule a VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for migraines, cervical spinal stenosis, a scar on neck, and right ankle disability, as well as increased ratings for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for service connection for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.
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