The Board has ordered remand for the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a headache disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is not provided with proper notice regarding his right to a hearing under 38 C.F.R. §3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1). Additionally, the VA back examination was inadequate as it did not address functional loss due to pain or ameliorative effects of medications.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims are remanded due to improper notice regarding his right to a hearing and an inadequate VA examination that failed to consider functional loss due to pain and ameliorative effects of medications.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headache disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include insomnia, anxiety, and depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2026
- Citation
- A26001439
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 A26001439.
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 has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 13, 2020 for the service connection of low back disability and related radiculopathy issues. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted in January 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not establish that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
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