The Board remands the claims for service connection for lower and upper back disabilities due to an inadequate medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the March 2019 medical opinion is inadequate for adjudication purposes, as it lacks a rationale. Additionally, the January 2023 VA examiner's negative opinion was based on the absence of evidence and failed to address the Veteran's lay statements and documented medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Lower back disability, Upper back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25008850
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