The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination for his lumbar spine disability. Additionally, he will be afforded another VA examination to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.
The deciding factor: The case requires additional development as there are outstanding VA treatment records that may contain relevant information and evidence, and the Veteran's claim for a TDIU is contingent upon obtaining updated medical records and an appropriate evaluation of his disability status.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability residuals of compression fracture L3 with deformity, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative spondyloarthrits, herniated disk at L1- L2, and foraminal narrowing at L4-5, S1, anxiety neurosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2017
- Citation
- 1702011
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 1702011.
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 remands the issues of CUE in the June 1972 and March 1991 rating decisions for initial adjudication by the AOJ.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of the July 1980 rating decision, finding that it did not commit an error in failing to adjudicate a claim for service connection for 'delayed stress reaction.' The July 1980 rating decision was found to be final and correct as applied at the time.
- Denied
The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted with an effective date of March 11, 2009. The appeal regarding the earlier effective date for hiatal hernia is still pending.
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