The Board has remanded the claims for an adequate VA examination and medical opinion. The Veteran's upper back disorder is being reviewed, as are his service connection claims.
The deciding factor: Further development is needed to determine if there is a current diagnosis of a thoracolumbar spine condition and its relationship to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Upper back disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 11, 2021
- Citation
- 21028382
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 21028382.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for an upper back disorder due to a lack of examination and opinion regarding this condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for low back, upper back, heel disorder, ear injury, head injury, and cold injury of the feet were dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,A claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to new evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disorder, bilateral knee disorder including arthritis, right shoulder disorder, and upper back disorder were denied as there was no competent evidence of record showing the veteran currently suffers from these conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service, and thus denied all three issues of service connection.
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.