The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) and cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder acromioclavicular arthritis with impingement and thoracic outlet syndrome is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the underlying claim for service connection for a back disability, thus denying reopening of the claim. The issue of secondary service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) and cervical spine disability is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Cervical Spine Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22028772
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 22028772.
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 claim for service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is being remanded due to a failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination in connection with her claim. The Board finds that this was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires rescheduling of the examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right knee strain (painful motion), and right knee instability are now rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2017.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for TMD, cervical spine disability, and FSAD have been denied.,An earlier effective date prior to August 2, 2022, for the award of service connection for these conditions has also been denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative disc disease is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
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