The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased evaluations for cervical spine disability and radiculopathy. The Veteran will need to undergo new medical examinations, including an orthopedic examination, to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations obtained in October 2022 and January 2023 are inadequate due to lack of sufficient specialist knowledge and missing range of motion measurements during flare-ups. The Board has therefore ordered new medical examinations for clarification.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD), cervical spine, C6-7 with multiple neuroforaminal stenosis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), Radiculopathy, left upper extremity, Radiculopathy, right upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23051620
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 23051620.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve, and his non-service-connected radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is needed for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a new examination to evaluate the Veteran's cervical spine disability and radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right upper and lower extremities, and radiculopathy of the left upper and lower extremities are all remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine condition and dismissed the claim for PTSD, while denying claims for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, TBI rating increase, status post right knee meniscectomy rating increase, and scar rating.
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