The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the November 2020 rating decision. The issue of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder is now pending and will be addressed with a new VA medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board found there was a duty-to-assist error in the initial decision and thus remanded the case to provide the Veteran with a new factually informed and fully explained VA medical opinion regarding whether his lumbosacral spine disorder is related to service, including in-service treatment for lumbar strain and segmental dysfunction.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine disorder, lumbar strain, lumbar spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24019376
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 A24019376.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder, diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis and L3-L4 disc herniation status post hemilaminectomy (s/p) right L3-4 hemilaminectomy with diskectomy. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current disability and his military service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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