The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with IVDS, left lower extremity neuropathy, and left foot peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the inadequacy of the July 2017 VA examination. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service and if they are aggravated by his service-connected back disability.
The deciding factor: The July 2017 VA examination was inadequate for adjudication purposes, as it did not consider the Veteran's competent and credible statements regarding the onset and continuity of his in-service back pain. Further, the examiner erroneously determined that the Veteran's back disability preexisted service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left lower extremity (LLE) neuropathy, left foot peripheral neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22039639
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 22039639.
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 Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy is granted with an effective date of July 25, 2023.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy is dismissed as it does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
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