The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA back examination. The Veteran's thoracic spine disorder is being reviewed for possible service connection and secondary to his service-connected left shoulder condition.
The deciding factor: The absence of a VA examination prevented a determination on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed thoracic spine disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracic spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23009535
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 23009535.
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 Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disorders, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to her service-connected right knee strain and/or left knee strain. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to determine the etiology of the Veteran's spine disorders.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple spinal conditions and a right foot disorder, effective from the date of the September 2024 rating decision.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, hemorrhoids, and a thoracic spine disorder. Service connection was granted for hypertension, and an initial rating of 30 percent was assigned for irritable bowel syndrome.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability. The claims for a thoracic spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral tinea pedis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and residuals of buttocks surgery were denied.
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