The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for a shoulder disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to the need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The decision was not about service connection but rather an increased rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The issues related to service connection for a shoulder disorder and entitlement to TDIU were remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the appeal of the cervical spine disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine disability, Shoulder disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182563
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 service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and right leg nerve disability as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals at a December 2024 Board hearing. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a separate 50 percent initial rating for insomnia as secondary to tinnitus, and denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board also granted service connection for headache disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, a cervical spine disability, and right ear hearing loss but denied service connection for sinusitis. The left ear hearing loss claim was remanded.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.