The case is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, particularly from private chiropractic treatment providers and VA outpatient clinics.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and disc herniations are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back strain disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, disc herniations
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2013
- Citation
- 1338807
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 1338807.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, finding the evidence to be in approximate balance regarding its relation to an in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and chose to pursue subsequently filed supplemental claims for the same conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the veteran's back disability but remanded the case to reassess the rating.
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