The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate for adjudication as they did not apply the correct standard of proof, did not address worsening or aggravation, and did not support the findings with an adequate rationale. The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left hip, and right hip disabilities secondary to service-connected disabilities must be remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations failed to consider the correct evidentiary standard of but-for causation and did not provide a detailed rationale addressing whether the Veteran's disabilities would have developed or worsened without his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Lower Back Disability, Left Hip Disability, Right Hip Disability
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 1, 2024
- Citation
- A24035253
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 A24035253.
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.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right hip disability, finding that her current 10 percent rating adequately reflects her symptoms and limitations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for both a right hip disability and a left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's observable symptoms of pain and stiffness began during his active service and have persisted.
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