The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities due to insufficient development. The Veteran's current neck disability is not service-connected as there is no evidence linking it to an in-service injury or event, despite credible lay statements of continuity of symptoms since service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while the Veteran reported a history of neck pain during service and post-service, the STRs did not document any chronic neck disability. The VA examinations provided conflicting opinions regarding whether the current neck disability is related to an in-service injury or event.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the neck (neck disability), Radiculopathy of the upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22006399
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 22006399.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC at the intermediary level N1/2 from October 20, 2020 to June 7, 2022. This decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dismissed the appeals regarding cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of various lower and upper extremity disorders, as well as a left shoulder disorder, to allow for additional development. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease, radiculopathy of the upper extremities as secondary to service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.
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