The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for DDD lumbar spine with IVDS and mechanical low back pain (claimed as lower back injury) due to insufficient evidence linking his current diagnosis to service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion provided by Dr. MJM does not provide an adequate rationale and basis for the Veteran’s current diagnosis of a lower back condition, which is linked to service.
- Claimed conditions
- DDD lumbar spine, IVDS (Intervertebral Disc Syndrome), mechanical low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2019
- Citation
- A19002790
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 A19002790.
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 Board granted service connection for a neck injury, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and history of spinal fusion, based on the evidence showing chronicity since service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for mechanical low back pain, musculoskeletal neck and cervical spine, and ear condition (such as earaches) based on the evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active service with continuity of symptoms to the present.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to the VA for further examination and documentation. The Veteran's claims are being sent back to the VA for additional evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of mechanical low back pain and congenital fusion of L3-4 is remanded. The Board needs more information to decide if the condition was aggravated by military service.
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