The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected chronic lumbar muscle strain is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated medical records.
The deciding factor: The decision requires additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lumbar muscle strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2016
- Citation
- 1641227
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 1641227.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation of his lumbar spine disability and a TDIU determination due to inadequate examination in the March 2019 decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and requests for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his service, including a 1970 incident where he was struck by a large barrel. The disability did not manifest within one year of discharge and there is no evidence linking it to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest opportunity. If he fails to appear, his pending hearing requests will be withdrawn.
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