The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability, and requests additional evidence.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion on whether the Veteran’s current back disability is related to his service, specifically lifting weights during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- back strain, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001296
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 Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 26, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a secondary service connection opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back strain is aggravated by his service-connected left knee sprain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the severity of his condition without the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from March 1, 2021, and an effective date of March 1, 2021, for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
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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.