The Board remands the claim for a cervical strain to obtain an addendum medical opinion that considers the Veteran's reports of in-service symptoms and injuries, including those sustained during combat.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was found inadequate as it is based solely on the lack of contemporaneous medical records to support their negative opinion. The Board also noted the Veteran's combat service and the need to consider his reports of developing neck pain after wearing a weighted helmet with night vision goggles during combat operations in Afghanistan.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical strain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25054146
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, but remanded claims for service connection for sinusitis, calcified lymph nodes on the lungs, and cervical strain.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for cervical strain, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The claim for an earlier effective date for a left shoulder disability was dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left hip condition, right hip condition, cervical strain, and back condition due to an incomplete duty to assist error in failing to afford the Veteran VA examinations.
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