The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for disc protrusion at L5-S1 is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination as per Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).
The deciding factor: The decision requires additional medical evidence and an updated evaluation of the Veteran's condition.
- Claimed conditions
- disc protrusion at L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19124250
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 inadequate examination findings regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability and provide specific range of motion measurements.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected low back disability due to inadequate findings in the previous November 2018 VA examination. The issues of higher initial ratings for the Veteran's lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, disc protrusion L5-S1, degenerative arthritis of the spine, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis are being remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.