Court Remands Cervical Spine Claim for Army Veteran

Our client, a proud Army and National Guard veteran, just secured a major win at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). On April 11, 2025, the Court set aside a January 2024 Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision that denied service connection for a chronic cervical spine disorder.

The Court agreed with our argument: the Board failed to ensure compliance with its own prior remand. In April 2023, the Board ordered a new medical opinion. It required the examiner to address the veteran’s statements about neck pain since service. Unfortunately, the resulting medical opinions—dated May and October 2023—did not properly address those statements.

The May 2023 opinion offered only a vague note that lay statements were “considered.” It failed to explain how those statements affected the examiner’s conclusions. A follow-up opinion in October 2023 referenced contradictory statements from 2013 medical records. However, that opinion did not clarify how it weighed the veteran’s consistent reports of in-service injury and chronic pain.

Even worse, the Board’s decision simply claimed “substantial compliance” with its remand—without any supporting explanation. The Court made clear: such a bare conclusion cannot stand. Veterans are entitled to a full explanation. The Board must support its findings with reasons that allow real review.

Because the Board did not explain its conclusions—and because the record raises doubts about compliance—the Court remanded the case. Now, the Board must properly review the evidence, apply the law, and give our client the consideration he deserves.

This ruling reinforces a key principle in veterans law: remand orders are not suggestions. The VA must follow them. If it fails, we will continue to fight for our clients—every step of the way.