The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions based on incomplete examination records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain complete service personnel records, including those from the United States Army Reserve, verify all active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA) dates, and provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the disabilities are related to any verified periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA examination opinions were inadequate due to incomplete records and did not address service connection based on ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The AOJ is required to obtain complete service personnel records, verify all relevant dates of service, and provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- back disability, neck disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24057335
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 A24057335.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a neck disability due to pre-decisional error in not obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion.
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