The Board denied the application to readjudicate a previously denied claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, as no new and relevant evidence was submitted. The claims for prostate cancer and bladder disability were remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The March 2015 lay statement and VA treatment records from April 2014 to March 2023 did not provide new and relevant evidence to warrant readjudication of the claim of service connection for a back disability. Additional development is necessary for the claims of prostate cancer and bladder disability due to potential Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Lumbosacral strain, Degenerative arthritis of the spine, Prostate cancer with bladder involvement, Bladder disability, to include bladder cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2025
- Citation
- A25055486
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 remands the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed due to res judicata, as the issues were previously adjudicated and are now barred from further review.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and foraminal stenosis based on a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine to obtain a new medical opinion that considers an in-service injury after appropriate efforts are made to obtain the appellant's service treatment records.
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