The Board remands the claim for a lumbar disorder to obtain an addendum opinion that adequately considers all relevant evidence, including lay statements and medical records.
The deciding factor: The previous examination was inadequate as it failed to address key lay statements regarding the onset of symptoms near the end of service.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25025993
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, while remanding the claims for a lumbar disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a lumbar disorder to provide the Veteran with an appropriate examination to determine its etiology.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for a lumbar disorder and an effective date of April 11, 2018, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), while denying other claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of a lumbar disorder and cervical disorder. The Board found that the AOJ did not properly assist the veteran in obtaining necessary medical records and examinations.
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