The Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent lumbar strain is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and the need for further development of his National Guard records.
The deciding factor: The current medical opinion is inadequate to decide the case, and the Veteran must be afforded a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current lower back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2017
- Citation
- 1703932
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 1703932.
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 case due to errors in the decision and a need for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent lumbar strain, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, femoral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and left knee strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for one year prior to January 14, 2016. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent lumbar strain. However, the claim for arthritis of the spine was denied as there is no evidence that it manifested during or within one year after service and is not related to his service-connected lumbar strain.
- Granted
The Veteran's spondylosis cervical spine, recurrent lumbar strain, right knee instability, and left knee limitation of motion have been granted service connection. The Veteran has also received a TDIU rating.
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