The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination reports and conflicting opinions. The Veteran's back problems, left and right lumbar radiculopathies, and PTSD with alcohol use disorder are all being reviewed again.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not adequately address the Veteran’s lay statements regarding his chronic back pain since service and the prior pre-service back condition.
- Claimed conditions
- back problems, left lumbar radiculopathy, right lumbar radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD with alcohol use disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20007829
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, and CFS. The Veteran's hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, shoulder disability, knee meniscal tear, knee limitation of extension, knee scars, GERD, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and PTSD were also not rated higher than their current levels.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a back condition and left lumbar radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the veteran's service-connected conditions, including trochanteric pain syndrome and bursitis, degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis and disc bulge, right thumb ulnar collateral ligament tear, and lumbar radiculopathy, all effective April 16, 2023.
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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.