The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's reported history of chronic back pain since service and consider his history of running, rucking, and marching in service.
The deciding factor: The November 2019 VA examination is inadequate because it based the negative opinion on the absence of treatment for a lumbosacral spine condition in service and did not discuss the Veteran's history of running, rucking, and marching.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc condition of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2023
- Citation
- 23001597
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 granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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