The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for L5-S1 anterolisthesis and bilateral L5 spondylolysis due to a pre-decisional error in the July 2019 VA lumbar spine examination. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.
The deciding factor: The July 2019 VA lumbar spine examination did not consider a medical record from soon after service showing chronic problems of lumbago, lower back pain, and a lower back sprain.
- Claimed conditions
- L5-S1 anterolisthesis, bilateral L5 spondylolysis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24020287
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 A24020287.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for chronic lumbar strain with bilateral L5 spondylolysis and minimal osteosis spondylolisthesis of L5.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability, characterized as spondylolysis and L5-S1 anterolisthesis, warrants a rating of 20 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The evidence shows that forward flexion was limited to 70 degrees with pain throughout the range.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral L5 spondylolysis was denied, and his secondary service connection claim for erectile dysfunction was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, and that his erectile dysfunction is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and consideration.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.