The Board has dismissed the appeals for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to June 1, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent from that date, for degenerative disc disease cervical spine; and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for scar, status-post spinal stimulator installation. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome, left side.
The deciding factor: The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeals on these issues prior to the promulgation of a Board decision.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease cervical spine, Scar, status-post spinal stimulator installation, Thoracic outlet syndrome, left side
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2022
- Citation
- 22011009
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 22011009.
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 death was not due to service-connected conditions, and the VA examiner's opinion did not address inconsistencies in the autopsy report. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.,The Veteran's right hip injury is currently rated at 20 percent, which is also the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities for the period from September 27, 2012 to December 28, 2015 and for the period from December 29, 2015 to present.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found the Veteran's testimony credible and remands for further examinations to determine if his current back, hip, knee, and sciatica disabilities are related to service-connected bilateral pes planus. Additional VA medical records were obtained after the SOC was issued but not considered in the decision.
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