The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy and degenerative facet joint changes, is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the October 2020 VA opinion.
The deciding factor: The October 2020 VA opinion did not adequately address the Veteran's reports of an in-service missile-loading incident and its potential relation to his current back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, degenerative facet joint changes, grade 1 spondylolisthesis at L4-L5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26016235
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 A26016235.
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 Veteran's tinnitus and major depressive disorder have been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded several issues related to his lower extremities, lumbar spine, ankles, feet, and kidneys due to the need for further medical examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence received, but did not specify any outcome or rating assigned.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and his current condition is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 9, 2007, and from January 1, 2008, to July 28, 2008. From July 29, 2008, to March 14, 2010, the disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. Since November 1, 2012, the disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.
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