The Board has remanded the case for further development to ensure compliance with the Court's January 2015 memorandum decision and prior August 2012 Joint Motion. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding treatment records from his chiropractor, as well as complete clinical records of all providers identified.
The deciding factor: The Board needs a more comprehensive VA medical opinion that addresses the etiology of the Veteran's low back disabilities and whether any other diagnosed conditions (such as arthritis or disc disease) have been caused or aggravated by the lumbar strain. The examiner must also consider the credibility of the Veteran's account of his symptom history.
- Claimed conditions
- low back strain, lumbar degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1619544
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 1619544.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including the one for an increased rating for low back strain.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 14, 2023.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for athletes' foot, low back strain, and plantar fasciitis due to a lack of a VA examination prior to the August 2020 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back strain has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
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