The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service-connected lower thoracic strain, including claims for neck condition, shoulder conditions, arm numbness, hand numbness, and headache. The remand requires obtaining additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by the service-connected back condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidentiary record is incomplete due to missing records from a previous workman's compensation claim and requested additional VA examinations to address the relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine conditions and his service-connected lower thoracic strain.
- Claimed conditions
- neck condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right arm numbness, left arm numbness, left hand numbness, right hand numbness, headache condition, right knee condition, left knee condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20025684
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20025684.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his request.,Service connection for a back condition is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.
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