The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder as further development is needed to address the adequacy of the medical opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection.
The deciding factor: The July 2023 VA examiner's opinions are inadequate because they do not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset in service and chronicity and continuity since, nor did the VA examiner offer an opinion regarding secondary aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine disorder, to include degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine disorder, to include levoscoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee disorder, to include history of partial menisctomy right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25034678
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 appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral cataracts of the eyes.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, migraines, left and right knee disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea due to missing military records and inadequate examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an increased rating for the left shoulder disorder, service connection for a cervical spine disorder, service connection for a right arm disorder, and service connection for a left arm disorder.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.