The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of C5-C6 is secondary to her service-connected lumbago.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the cervical spine condition was caused or aggravated by the service-connected lumbago, which is required for a decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of C5-C6
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20035030
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20035030.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The rating reduction from 30 percent to 20 percent for cervical spine disability was improper, and the 30 percent rating is restored. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and left leg radiculopathy were denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board finds that the veteran's currently diagnosed chronic cervical strain, muscle spasm, and degenerative disc disease of C5-C6 are etiologically related to service. The residuals of head injury are not currently demonstrated.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
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