The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination reports that did not include information on when pain began during range of motion testing.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were insufficient as they did not provide the required details about when pain started during range of motion testing, which is necessary to assess functional loss caused by the disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine strain, lumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2021
- Citation
- 21001788
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 21001788.
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 service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of functional impairment. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if any service-connected disability results in loss of use of both lower extremities, one lower extremity and one upper extremity, or residuals affecting balance and propulsion.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in gainful employment as of January 1, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine strain, thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain (back conditions), left lower extremity pain, right lower extremity pain, left shoulder strain, and right hip pain. The evidence does not show a nexus between these conditions and active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence related to the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been received since the May 2023 rating decision. The claims of increased ratings for cervical spine strain, right shoulder arthralgia, right knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, left knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, and entitlement to a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for right knee arthralgia based on limitation of extension from October 28, 2024 to February 25, 2025 are remanded.
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