The Board denied an initial compensable rating for a lower back scar and remanded the claim for an increased rating for a lower back disability due to an inadequate examination.
The deciding factor: The December 2020 VA examiner's report was found to be inadequate as it contradicted itself regarding the Veteran's flare-ups, necessitating a new examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Residual lower back scar, Lower back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25042824
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 granted the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability, while denying service connection for lower back, kidney, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bladder disability, gynecological condition, right ankle disability, and lower back disability as these conditions are not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, but remanded claims for a neck disability, lower back disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the veteran's heart disability, hypothyroidism, and skeletal arthritis of entire joint system. The lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities were remanded for further development.
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