The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for additional evidence or an examination to determine the current level of disability.
- Claimed conditions
- upper and lower back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19167924
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 19167924.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for upper and lower back disability, neck disability, headaches, and sleep condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient VA examination opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to periods of National Guard and Reserve service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including upper and lower back disability, neck disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, bilateral eye disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Barrett's esophagus, coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysm, prostate cancer, and thyroid disability. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.
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