The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current back disorder is causally related to his service-connected shell fragment wounds of the left and right lower legs.
The deciding factor: The Court found that the Board failed to adequately address a March 1996 opinion by a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds and any current back disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- back strain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2000
- Citation
- 0004197
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 0004197.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a secondary service connection opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back strain is aggravated by his service-connected left knee sprain.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches was granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, while other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensation for various conditions, including right hip strain, PTSD, and left ankle condition, among others.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an abdominal muscle contusion and back strain was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.
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.