The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims regarding his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as there are inconsistencies in the examinations conducted prior to this decision.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not conduct Correia compliant testing (both active and passive range of motion testing) or provide an assessment of functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings must be remanded for further examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with degenerative disc and joint disease, cervical strain with degenerative disc and joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19183908
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 veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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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.