The Board has decided to remand the claim for cervical strain with IVDS and spondylolisthesis due to a pre-decisional error in not considering whether the Veteran's condition was aggravated by service or if it clearly existed prior to service.
The deciding factor: The decision is being remanded because the VA did not consider whether the Veteran's neck disability was aggravated during periods of active duty service, despite evidence indicating possible aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical strain, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), spondylolisthesis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26004072
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26004072.
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
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