The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and a neck disability due to the lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded for further clarification regarding its etiology.
The deciding factor: The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claims of in-service injuries to his back and neck. The lack of contemporaneous medical records or statements from the Veteran during service strongly suggests that any reported incidents did not result in current disabilities.,VA is required to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, specifically addressing whether it is at least as likely as not related to a head trauma incident during active military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disability, Neck Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2024
- Citation
- 24007328
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 24007328.
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 Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
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