The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset of the Veteran's neck disorder during service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the Veteran’s contention that in-service headaches were related to or manifestations of his current neck disorder, and dismissed the Veteran's contentions regarding ongoing symptoms since service without providing a rationale for why the absence of medical records is medically significant.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20073764
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,863 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20073764.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his service connection claims.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection of sleep apnea, headaches, and a neck disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not show entitlement prior to September 6, 2019.,Service connection for a neck disorder and bilateral hearing loss were both denied because there is no current disability found in the record.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a neck disorder, finding that the Veteran's in-service fall and subsequent pain are related to his current condition.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.