The Board has decided that a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected cervical spine arthritis is warranted, but the case needs to be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity and functional impact of the condition.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner was not provided with sufficient information about the Veteran's flare-ups during the examination, which could affect the assessment of his disability level.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19187065
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 appeal for a total disability due to individual unemployability based on a single disability for special monthly compensation purposes, as there was no evidence that any single service-connected condition or combination of conditions rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeals are granted as to cervical spine arthritis, left knee arthritis (left), right hand arthritis, right foot arthritis, COPD, and asthma.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for Reiter’s Syndrome is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claims for cervical spine arthritis and lumbar spine arthritis as secondary to his Reiter’s Syndrome, but remands these issues due to a lack of medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for low back pain, tinnitus, and cervical spine arthritis. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to his military service.
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