The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for back pain as secondary to bilateral knee patellar femoral syndrome disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims file should be forwarded to a qualified VA examiner to provide a nexus opinion on his lower back pain.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the AOJ's cancellation of both the examination and the request for a secondary service connection nexus opinion constituted a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- back pain, bilateral knee patellar femoral syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2024
- Citation
- A24078294
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 A24078294.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for back pain and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain and neck pain, finding no current disability. The claim for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is remanded due to inadequate consideration of all potential exposures.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also remanded due to a lack of development of the Veteran's therapist's records.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The claims for service connection for hypertension, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain have been readjudicated. The claim for sleep apnea has also been readjudicated.,Service connection has been granted for a neck condition, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bruxism, and vertigo.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, including back pain and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active-duty service.
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