The Veteran's service-connected neck disability, back disability, and right and left upper extremity disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has asserted that his disabilities have increased in severity since the last VA examination. The Board finds it necessary to schedule a new VA examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, Intervertebral disc syndrome (neck disability), Intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine, status post laminectomy with residual scar (back disability), Intervertebral disc syndrome with ulnar nerve involvement, right upper extremity, Intervertebral disc syndrome with sciatic nerve involvement, right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20000477
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine but denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30 percent rating, while the lumbar and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are denied. An earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted, and TDIU based on single service-connected disability is remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.
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