The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding current thoracolumbar spine diagnoses, including whether Klippel-Feil syndrome is a congenital defect or acquired disease. The examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.
The deciding factor: Insufficient evidence to determine if current thoracolumbar spine diagnoses are congenital defects or acquired diseases.
- Claimed conditions
- Klippel-Feil syndrome, Spondylolisthesis of L4 over L5, L5-S1 disc space narrowing with vacuum change and degenerative type endplate change, osteophyte and facet arthropathy, SI joints arthrosis and proximal narrowing of the SI joints right greater than left, Dextro spinal curve of the midthoracic spine, a levo spinal curve across upper thoracic levels, degenerative changes with osteophytes
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2023
- Citation
- 23021813
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 23021813.
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: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's request to revise a 1996 rating decision that denied service connection for Klippel-Feil syndrome based on clear and unmistakable error. The Board found no error in the original decision.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for Klippel-Feil syndrome and a hiatal hernia has been dismissed.,Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety).,Service connection was denied for chronic sleep disorder and chronic memory disorder.,Service connection was denied for residuals of a traumatic brain injury.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disabilities, including herniated discs and Klippel-Feil syndrome, as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The decision also granted TDIU based on the Veteran’s combined rating of 70% due to multiple service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran's neck and back disability, including Klippel-Feil syndrome, was not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service.
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