The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for failing to address the Veteran's arguments regarding the adequacy of the July 2020 VA examination, as well as the need to consider whether a retrospective medical opinion was warranted. The Board also found that the August 2018 and July 2020 VA examinations were inadequate due to inconsistent findings regarding flareups.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the August 2018 and July 2020 VA examination reports were inadequate as they did not provide adequate information about the Veteran's flareups, which is a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- April 28, 2026
- Citation
- A26039705
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26039705.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and PTSD, as well as a TDIU rating due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome prior to March 24, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability prior to June 27, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a higher initial rating of 50 percent from June 23, 2011 to December 26, 2013. The lumbar spine disability was remanded for further evaluation.
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