The veteran's claim for an increased rating for a low back disability (lumbosacral strain) was remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling the veteran for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there had been a significant change in the veteran's condition since his last examination and that an updated examination was necessary to properly evaluate his current disability level.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability (lumbosacral strain)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2008
- Citation
- 0812770
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 service connection for low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The right shoulder disability was dismissed by the Veteran's request to withdraw the appeal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 14, 2021 for the award of service connection for migraine headaches but denied earlier effective dates for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and a higher rating for low back disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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