The Board has determined that the VA etiological opinion is inadequate and requires additional examination to address all relevant in-service and current diagnoses, as well as the Veteran's reported history of chronic lower back pain.
The deciding factor: The examiner did not adequately address all relevant STRs or current diagnoses, nor did they consider the Veteran’s reports of intermittent back pain since 1981.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis, Left sided sciatica, Mild retrolisthesis of L1 on L2, Spondylolysis at L3-L4 and L5-S1 on the right side, Multilevel degenerative disc disease, Piriformis syndrome, Lumbosacral strain, Myalgia, Myositis, Straightened lordosis, Mild scoliosis, Lumbago, Spinal enthesopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18144061
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 18144061.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the lumbar spine disability prior to October 11, 2022 and since December 1, 2022. The Veteran's claim is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5242.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and a lumbosacral strain, is at least as likely as not related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a deficiency in the April 2024 VA medical examination, specifically regarding passive range of motion testing for pain.
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