Pathfinder: Find all permutations of values that add up to a value

gistfile1.js

/**
 * first - the starting values
 * total - the value you want all values to add to
 * optimal - the preferred final value of the sequence
 * 
 * returns false if no path can be found to the answer
 */
function pathfinder(first, total, optimal) {
  
  var start = first - 1,
      end = first + 1,
      leftover,
      result,
      nextArr = [];
  
  for (; start <= end; start++) {
    if (start > 0) {
      leftover = total - start;

      if (leftover > 0) {
        
        result = pathfinder(start, leftover, optimal);
      } else if (leftover === 0 && optimal === start) {
        result = true;
      } else {
        result = false;
      }

      if (result) {
        nextArr.push({
          value: start,
          next: result
        });
      }
    }
  }
  
  if (nextArr.length) {
    return nextArr;
  } else {
    return false;
  }
}