The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding the nature and origin of the Veteran's scoliosis and spina bifida occulta, which are considered congenital defects. The examiner is asked to determine if there was a superimposed injury or disease that caused an increase in severity during service.
The deciding factor: The Board has determined that further clarification on whether the disabilities preexisted service and were aggravated by service is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- Scoliosis, Spina bifida occulta
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19158995
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 19158995.
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 has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his conditions.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to his valid opt-in of specific issues into the modernized review system.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection was granted for scoliosis, with the condition aggravated during service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and scoliosis, but remanded the other issues.
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