The Board remands the claim for service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS, to include as secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar spine and left shoulder disabilities, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error by affording the appellant new VA medical examination and obtaining medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25029680
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 an effective date of November 5, 2014, for the award of service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS was dismissed due to a claims processing defect.
- Granted
The veteran's claim for service connection of cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) was granted. The Board found that the condition is due to a motor vehicle accident during service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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