The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The March 2023 VA medical opinion is deemed inadequate as it was based on erroneous conclusions regarding the absence of evidence of any back diagnoses, despite available medical records documenting treatment for and confirming diagnoses related to the Veteran's reported back pathology.
- Claimed conditions
- back disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2024
- Citation
- 24033012
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 withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and remanded several other issues, including service connection for various disorders and increased ratings for the right knee. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, and neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development and verification of any additional periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.