The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's cervical spine disability, as the current rating criteria have changed. The issue of a higher rating for degenerative disc disease with cervical strain remains under review.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for updated medical evidence in accordance with newly implemented rating criteria for cervical spine disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease with cervical strain, Lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21025296
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 21025296.
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 remands the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis to obtain additional evidence.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, namely lumbar spondylosis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected retropatellar syndrome, arthritis and meniscal strain, right knee.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of January 13, 2021, for the assignment of a 50 percent evaluation for sinusitis, a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and a 10 percent evaluation for left knee disability with instability (DC 5257). The claim for an earlier effective date than January 25, 2019, for the assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for left knee disability with limited flexion (DC 5260) was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder impingement syndrome, left foot sprain, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations.
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