The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar back condition and its relation to his service. The Veteran contends that his current back disability is directly related to an in-service injury during combat in Mayaguez in May 1975, but a VA examiner found no direct relationship between the in-service injury and the current condition.
The deciding factor: The Board finds insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's service-connected in-service back injury and his current lumbar back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar back condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19168352
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 19168352.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral knee conditions, bilateral shin conditions, and lumbar back condition was dismissed as it was not timely filed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar back condition is being sent back to the VA for further review. The Board needs more medical evidence to make a decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed. The claim for a lumbar back condition is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar back, left shoulder, and neck conditions are granted service connection. The Veteran's PFB and left knee conditions are denied.
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