The Veteran's claim for service connection for posterior cervical laminectomy, which is secondary to his service-connected compression fracture of T-11, and the issue of a temporary total rating for surgery of the cervical spine are both remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address whether the Veteran’s cervical spine condition was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected compression fracture, which is required for secondary service connection claims.
- Claimed conditions
- posterior cervical laminectomy, compression fracture of T-11
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19159832
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19159832.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU. The VA examinations are inadequate for the issues of increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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