The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his current back disability existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The case must also be remanded because of the VA examiner's statements indicating that the requested opinion could not be answered without speculation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's entrance examination did not note any spine problems, which raises the presumption of soundness. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding whether a pre-service car accident caused his current back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- back injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2016
- Citation
- 1634034
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 1634034.
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 Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions as secondary to left ankle condition due to an improper concurrent election in a previous appeal.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the Appellant, and no decision can be made on the underlying claims.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for back injury and radiculopathy of the right leg are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during his active service and has continued since then.
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