The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected back and IVDS disability, as well as GAD, due to an inadequate VA examination.
The deciding factor: The March 2024 VA back examination was found to be inadequate because it did not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding pain during flare-ups and did not provide a basis for the finding of no lost range of motion during flare-ups. The May 2024 VA mental health examination for GAD was also deemed inadequate as it did not consider evidence since the February 2024 new claim.
- Claimed conditions
- general anxiety disorder (GAD), service-connected spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis (back) and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2025
- Citation
- A25040908
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 913 · Granted: 41% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25040908.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence in the record, and a VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including ADHD, GAD, and MDD, began in service or is otherwise related to active military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for left ankle instability and service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and general anxiety disorder (GAD) as secondary to the TBI, while denying an increased rating for the lateral collateral ligament sprain left.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The Veteran's stressor remains unverified.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD. The case will be returned for a new VA examination.
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