The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that ankylosis does not apply due to maintained range of motion. The cervical spine disorder and bilateral hand neurological disorder are remanded for further examination.,Service connection for a disability manifested by muscle and joint pain other fibromyalgia as due to environmental hazard exposure during Gulf War service is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's low back condition does not meet the criteria for ankylosis, which would allow for a higher rating. The cervical spine disorder and bilateral hand neurological disorder are related to Gulf War service but require further examination to determine their etiology.,Service connection is remanded as the disabilities in question have not been definitively linked to Gulf War exposure without additional medical evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease with Low Back Pain (Low Back Condition), Cervical Spine Disorder, Bilateral Hand Neurological Disorder, including Bilateral CTS (CTS stands for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), Muscle and Joint Pain Other Fibromyalgia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20077109
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 20077109.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection effective from the date of his claim.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder disorders, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, left ankle disorder, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral knee disorders, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions provided in his VA examinations. The claims include tension headaches, a psychiatric disability (diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder), a cervical spine disorder, hand tremors, a lumbosacral spine disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, and residuals of a hydrocele.
- Dismissed
The appeal for PTSD is dismissed. The cervical spine and left middle finger disorders are remanded.
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