The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and shoulder disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on his in-service duties as a combat medic and licensed practical nurse.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not adequately consider the Veteran’s lay statements regarding his in-service duties, particularly those related to lifting heavy loads and carrying corpses.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disorder (lumbar spine disorder), Shoulder disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2021
- Citation
- 21005954
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 21005954.
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 elbow surgery due to nerve damage, severe right leg pain causing inability to walk distances, bilateral foot pain and swelling, shoulder disorder, and low back disorder. The claims were remanded for further examination.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's back and shoulder conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion as the VA examinations were inadequate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for a shoulder disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to errors in previous decisions and incomplete medical records.
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