The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current back disability and his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay history of intermittent back pain since service and self-treatment, which may affect the determination of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the back
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19145485
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another since September 30, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the back and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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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.