The Board remands the case for an addendum opinion to address additional evidence and questions regarding aggravation of a herniated disc by service-connected osteoarthritis, as well as the potential relationship between a back injury in 2003 and subsequent conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's previous report was incomplete due to new evidence not reviewed and the need for an addendum opinion addressing specific questions regarding aggravation and causation.
- Claimed conditions
- postoperative residuals of a herniated disc at L4-5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0815400
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.
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