The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a neck/upper back disability due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete review of his records. The case is returned to the RO for further development.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided were found to be insufficient, particularly regarding the continuity of symptoms from service to present day.
- Claimed conditions
- neck/upper back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23010587
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 23010587.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD with major depressive disorder is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, left ankle disability, left hand disability, right elbow disability, and neck/upper back disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for neck/upper back disability and headaches due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The AOJ will obtain new opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the evidence at least in relative equipoise and that it is at least as likely as not the Veteran experienced tinnitus in service with recurrent symptoms thereafter, warranting service connection on a direct basis.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with effective dates set at April 13, 2016. The Veteran is still denied a higher rating for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.
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