The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative joint disease but remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.
The deciding factor: Service connection is granted based on credible reports from the Veteran regarding his neck pain starting in service and recurrent since then. The psychiatric disorder was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability as per the examiner's opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical degenerative joint disease, psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20076630
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 20076630.
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 Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for cervical degenerative joint disease and cervical radiculopathy, as these issues are related to a previously service-connected lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new medical opinions provided.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, were denied as the Veteran failed to report for necessary VA examinations without providing good cause.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical degenerative joint disease, and bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy as the probative evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as there was no credible evidence supporting her claimed in-service stressors.
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