The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's arthritis of the thoracic spine and its relationship to her service.
The deciding factor: The examiner failed to address the Veteran’s competent report regarding the onset and continuity of spine symptoms from service.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the thoracic spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19168122
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 19168122.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to procedural errors and a need for additional evidence, including a VA examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as her thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities, including scoliosis, degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, arthritis of the thoracic spine, and bulging discs of the lumbar spine, did not have its onset during service or are otherwise related to service. Her cervical spine disability, skin disability, headaches, lower extremity paresthesia, psychiatric disability, right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, left knee arthrosis, and asthma were also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted a 10 percent rating from July 1, 1997 to October 30, 2006. Since then, he is entitled to a higher rating for this condition. The arthritis of the thoracic spine has also been rated at its maximum schedular value.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial claim for a rating increase for his thoracic spine arthritis was granted, and the effective date is May 8, 2014. The current rating of 20 percent has been maintained.
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