The Veteran's mid back strain has worsened and needs to be re-evaluated due to the time elapsed since his last examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported worsening symptoms, necessitating a new VA examination for an accurate assessment of his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- mid back strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18125741
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 18125741.
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 determined that the RO made errors in its adjudication of several service connection claims, including neck strain, mid back strain, shoulder strains, knee strains, migraines, vertigo, chronic sinusitis, and chronic rhinitis. The Board finds that VA examinations and medical opinions are needed to address these issues on remand.
- Denied
The Veteran's mid back strain has not resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, nor ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. Therefore, his claim for a higher rating is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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