The Veteran's appeal for service connection and a higher initial rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lower back condition, and the failure to provide a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) for the period prior to December 30, 2011.
The deciding factor: The Board found that VA did not comply with its February 2014 Remand directives by failing to provide an SSOC regarding the Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD for the period prior to December 30, 2011.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2015
- Citation
- 1527320
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1527320.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors for the issues on appeal and remanded the case. The Veteran is required to report for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his diabetes mellitus, lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left ankle disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection. The underlying merits of the claims must be addressed by the AOJ in the first instance, including any additional development that may be warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hip disorder with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues are being remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral spine disorder have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that these conditions are directly related to his active duty service.
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