The Board has decided to remand the claim for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hip, right knee, and/or right ankle disabilities. The AOJ is also requested to ensure that the VA examiner's medical opinions are supported by complete explanatory rationales based on the examiner's medical expertise and clinical experience.
The deciding factor: The Board found a duty to assist error in not obtaining a direct service connection medical opinion prior to issuance of the July 2024 rating decision, but this was corrected with the remand for a secondary service connection medical opinion. The AOJ is now required to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate VA examiner addressing the Veteran's secondary service connection contentions in relation to his current lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2026
- Citation
- A26039548
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 A26039548.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
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