The Board has found that further development is needed for VA to fulfill its duties mandated under the VCAA. The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Obtain all available treatment records from Dr. Qureshi at Arkansas Spine and Pain, as well as any updated VA treatment records since October 2011; (2) Arrange for a spine examination of the Veteran to ascertain the nature and likely etiology of any current back disability; (3) Ensure that all development sought is completed, review the record, readjudicate the claims, and issue an appropriate supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
The deciding factor: The Board has found that new evidence received since the June 2006 rating decision suggests a current diagnosis of a back disability. This evidence relates to an unestablished fact (current diagnosis) necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a back disability and raises a reasonable possibility of establishing such claim.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, Achilles tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 19, 2016
- Citation
- 1620426
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 1620426.
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 Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, hip, and lower extremity disabilities due to a lack of VA examination and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses and lay statements will be considered in determining if his conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the colon is granted as secondary to his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder to include alcohol use disorder. The back disability claim is remanded for further development.
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