The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for the underlying lumbar spine disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to the AOJ's failure to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the relationship between any current lumbar spine disability and service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, left leg pain or radiculopathy, right leg pain or radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2023
- Citation
- A23028240
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A23028240.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability related to military service, and for left and right leg radiculopathy secondary to that lumbar disability.
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