The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to provide adequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lower back conditions, including degenerative arthritis, spina bifida, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examinations were inadequate as they did not clearly address all diagnosed conditions or properly consider lay statements of continuity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis, Spina bifida, Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25051802
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 service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance, while remanding the issue of service connection for a seizures disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were caused by his in-service injuries.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a neck injury, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and history of spinal fusion, based on the evidence showing chronicity since service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2025 for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease thoracolumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, and levoscoliosis.
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