The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back pain is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is remanded as there are outstanding SSA records and a VA examination is needed to assess the existence of such a condition, its etiology, and whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of secondary service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder due to service-connected disability is also raised.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU rating is remanded as there are outstanding SSA records and a VA examination is needed to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to obtain or maintain employment.
The deciding factor: There are outstanding records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that need to be obtained in order to determine if they contain relevant information for the Veteran's claims. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability and whether he has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to his military service or due to his service-connected disabilities.,There are outstanding records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that need to be obtained in order to determine if they contain relevant information for the Veteran's claims. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess the existence of any acquired psychiatric disorder and its etiology, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities.,There are outstanding records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that need to be obtained in order to determine if they contain relevant information for the Veteran's claims. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to obtain or maintain employment.
- Claimed conditions
- low back pain with X-ray evidence of disc bulge at L3-L4 vertebrae, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 27, 2012
- Citation
- 1229315
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 1229315.
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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The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his unspecified neurocognitive disorder, which was diagnosed after a September 2021 heart surgery. The issues are about service connection on the merits.
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