The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim will also be reviewed.
The deciding factor: The case requires further development due to incomplete information and need for an updated assessment of the Veteran's condition.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain with disc disease, L4-L5 spondylolisthesis, L-5 fracture, status post fusion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1728584
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 1728584.
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 Veteran's service-connected conditions have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for lumbar strain with disc disease to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically to obtain workman's compensation records and an adequate medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, including arthritis, spondylolisthesis, DJD, DDD, and status post fusion. The Veteran's current diagnosed conditions were not incurred in or related to active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the provision of updated medical records. The issues of increased evaluation for lumbar spine disability and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.
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