The Board remands the claims for service connection for a lumbar disability and cervical disability due to missing records.
The deciding factor: Remand is required to obtain necessary private treatment records from October 1998 and Dr. W.W., M.D., of Meridian Medical Associates, P.A.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar disability, cervical disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 6, 2021
- Citation
- 21062275
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and denied increased ratings for the lumbar disability, left and right sciatica, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased rating of 40 percent from March 7, 2022, for left and right sciatic radiculopathy and restored a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed all claims for service connection and increased ratings due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatica was dismissed as untimely, while other conditions were remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board found new and relevant evidence was received to warrant readjudication of the appeals for service connection, but ultimately denied service connection for left 3rd and 4th finger disability, cervical disability, right upper extremity pain and paresthesia, and left upper extremity pain and paresthesia. The claims for sternum disability and bilateral big toe disability were remanded.
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.