The Board has remanded the claims for recurrent lumbosacral strain and DDD of the cervical spine due to inadequate examination findings regarding flare-ups, requiring additional retrospective medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the January 2019 VA examiner's failure to estimate range of motion during lumbar and cervical spine flare-ups was not clear that it was predicated on a lack of knowledge among the 'medical community at large' rather than insufficient knowledge of the specific examiner, necessitating additional retrospective medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- Recurrent lumbosacral strain, Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 22, 2022
- Citation
- 22054054
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 22054054.
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 Board has granted service connection for recurrent lumbosacral strain, finding that the condition originated during active service and is directly related to a back injury sustained while in the military.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability as further development is needed to obtain an adequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the claims for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine, bilateral trochanteric pain syndrome, and a gastrointestinal disability, to obtain additional medical opinions.
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