The Board remands the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his low back and neck disabilities, as well as a claim for TDIU, to ensure compliance with previous remand directives.
The deciding factor: Remand is required due to inadequate medical examinations and missing private treatment records that are necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spondylosis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), lumbar spine strain with IVDS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2024
- Citation
- 24000813
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine strain with IVDS, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to the lumbar spine disability), and right and left knee disabilities on a direct basis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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