The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors, and will need to provide an addendum opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's back disability had its onset during or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service.
The deciding factor: The decision was remanded due to prior duty-to-assist errors in securing medical opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions and relevant records.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26020987
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 A26020987.
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 has remanded the service connection claim for a left knee disability and the temporary total evaluation claim due to insufficient medical opinions in the file. The issues are inextricably intertwined.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities is established, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability may have been aggravated by service, but an adequate VA medical opinion is needed to determine if this aggravation was due to a preexisting condition or occurred during service.
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