The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the neck is remanded due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there are incomplete medical records from the 1970s, which prevented a thorough evaluation. Additionally, the Veteran needs a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- arthritis of the neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20000868
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions as they were premature, and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and a migraine headache disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral flatfoot, arthritis of the neck, PTSD, radiculopathy of both upper extremities, and non-compensable ratings for umbilical hernia and right inguinal hernia.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a sleep disorder, type two diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, vertigo, hypertension, migraine headaches, arthritis of various joints, and kidney disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for arthritis of the neck, left hip, and both knees to schedule a VA examination to determine their nature and etiology.
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