The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder, bilateral hip arthritis, and dermatitis conditions due to inadequate etiological opinions in the current file. The VA is directed to seek Social Security Administration (SSA) records and obtain new medical opinions regarding the onset and progression of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the existing medical opinions are insufficient to determine whether service connection is warranted for the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly due to a lack of continuity of symptomatology post-service. The VA must seek additional evidence from SSA and obtain new etiological opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical Spine Condition, Thoracolumbar Spine Condition, Right Shoulder Condition, Bilateral Hip Arthritis, Dermatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19131810
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a higher rating for hypertension but granted a 10% rating for the left (minor) long/middle finger, while denying compensable ratings for the other fingers and dermatitis.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 25, 2020, for the award of a 30 percent rating for dermatitis and psoriasis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD, denied ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee strains, granted separate 10 percent ratings for painful, noncompensable limitation of flexion of the knees, granted service connection for back condition and related radiculopathies, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and remanded additional issues due to insufficient evidence.
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