The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, to include degenerative joint disease, is reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his current neck pain or cervical spine disorder may be related to an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: A VA examination is needed to determine if any cervical spine disability, including degenerative joint disease, is at least as likely as not related to service, specifically the Veteran's asserted in-service injury of being struck on the head by a hatch on an armored personnel carrier.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2022
- Citation
- 22055158
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 22055158.
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 Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on hospitalization or convalescence due to his service-connected cervical spine disability is remanded as the record does not include post-surgical follow-up treatment records from the University of Virginia Hospital.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the claimed back disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, including radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and current medical diagnoses.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury.
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