The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any low back disability, including lumbar arthritis with bulging disc, foraminal stenosis, and hypertrophic facet arthrosis. The Veteran's active service may be related to his current back disabilities.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion provided by the VA examiner in February 2017 is inadequate as it does not address the Veteran’s lay statements regarding his observed symptoms during and after his active service, including his belief that his military duties caused his current back disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar arthritis, bulging disc, foraminal stenosis, hypertrophic facet arthrosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19169050
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19169050.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's low back disability, neck disability, and left knee condition are all granted as service connected.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy are also granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not filed within one year of the rating decision, and no extension of time to file an appeal was granted due to lack of good cause.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, IVDS, radiculopathy, and bulging disc to obtain a more thorough medical opinion.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for several conditions but granted it for right hip disability and assigned a 20 percent rating for right knee instability. Some issues were remanded.
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