The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy in the bilateral lower extremities to ensure a complete record is available.
The deciding factor: The examiner's negative nexus opinion was found inadequate due to the discounting of lay statements by the Veteran regarding continuous symptoms since service, and an addendum opinion is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain (claimed as back condition), radiculopathy in the bilateral lower extremities, to include as secondary to lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24067893
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 denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and a compensable rating for various service-connected conditions, as well as remanded the claim for TDIU.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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