The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine if a neck disability is related to service. The TDIU claim prior to August 15, 2016 is also being referred for extraschedular consideration.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the cases require further development due to outstanding medical records and need for additional examination regarding the Veteran's neck disability and TDIU claim.
- Claimed conditions
- spina bifida occulta, transitional vertebrae with lumbosacral discomfort
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19159333
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 19159333.
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 the appellant's claims for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805 and § 1815, finding that she does not have a form or manifestation of spina bifida other than spina bifida occulta, and her mother is not a Vietnam Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805 for spina bifida, as he does not have a diagnosis of spina bifida other than spina bifida occulta.
- Partly granted
The Board denied benefits for a child born with birth defects and spina bifida, but granted service connection for spina bifida occulta.
- Denied
The Board denied benefits for spina bifida occulta as the Appellant does not meet the criteria for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805.
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