The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's assertions of in-service injuries are considered credible, but further medical opinion is needed to address the etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the current VA examination opinions were inadequate as they did not provide sufficient rationale for their conclusions regarding the service connection claims.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20066827
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 withdrew the appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral cataracts of the eyes.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an increased rating for the left shoulder disorder, service connection for a cervical spine disorder, service connection for a right arm disorder, and service connection for a left arm disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral diabetic neuropathy.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity, lumbar radiculopathy as they were already granted. The claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and cervical spine disorder are remanded for further development.
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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.