The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically missing medical records and inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain authorization for private treatment records from Dr. S. B. at Northwestern Medicine and request an opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically missing medical records and inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disabilities. The AOJ is required to correct these errors by obtaining authorization for private treatment records and requesting an opinion from a clinician.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, lumbosacral strain with lumbar spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2024
- Citation
- A24046709
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 A24046709.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, hip, and lower extremity disabilities due to a lack of VA examination and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses and lay statements will be considered in determining if his conditions are related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the colon is granted as secondary to his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder to include alcohol use disorder. The back disability claim is remanded for further development.
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