The Veteran's cervical spine IVDS with DDD is currently rated at 20 percent prior to June 29, 2016. The Board has remanded for further development regarding ratings higher than 20 percent from June 29, 2016, through September 16, 2020, and beginning September 17, 2020.,The Veteran's CAD is currently not service connected. The Board has remanded for a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether it was incurred in or caused by service.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating for the cervical spine disability prior to June 29, 2016, as there is no evidence of forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less, favorable or unfavorable ankylosis, or neurologic abnormalities other than separately evaluated bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22070998
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 22070998.
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
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