The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information provided by the clinician who conducted the November 2019 examination regarding flare-ups and functional loss. The Veteran's lumbar strain condition is being reviewed again with a different examiner.
The deciding factor: The decision was remanded because the previous examination report did not provide sufficient detail on whether the Veteran reported any flare-ups or functional loss due to repeat use over time, which is necessary for determining an appropriate rating.
- Claimed conditions
- mechanical lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20040572
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 20040572.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the RO did not fulfill its duty to notify under the VCAA prior to the October 2019 decision. The issues of service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and increased disability evaluations for mechanical lumbar strain are remanded due to incomplete assessments regarding flare-ups, occupational impact, and range of motion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected mechanical lumbar strain is being remanded to determine if the additional diagnoses of disc disease, sacroiliitis, left hip trochanteric bursitis, and bilateral radiculopathy are related to her service-connected condition.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for spine disability, hypertension, and lipoma. The claim for service connection for an eye disability was also denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and initial evaluations for his PTSD, major depressive disorder, mechanical cervical muscle strain, and mechanical lumbar strain have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and a neurological examination.
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