The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate August 2014 VA examination, which did not address service treatment records and Veteran's lay statements. The case is now pending for a new VA examination.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examination failed to consider service treatment records and the Veteran's lay statements regarding his back pain history.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine condition, acute lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23066326
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 23066326.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions on etiology and a duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and thoracolumbar spine condition are all granted as service-connected.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an error in providing notice of a pre-decisional hearing, and the Veteran is entitled to such a hearing before the AOJ.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal seeking revision of the September 15, 2014 rating decision that denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is dismissed.
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