The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected DJD with limitation of motion of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination, as well as obtaining medical records from Arizona Sports Physical Therapy and any follow-up treatment records related to the June 2004 endoscopic discectomy. The claim will be adjudicated using both old and new criteria governing spine disabilities.
The deciding factor: The need for a more contemporaneous VA examination, as well as obtaining medical records from Arizona Sports Physical Therapy and any follow-up treatment records related to the June 2004 endoscopic discectomy, is required due to the complexity of the veteran's lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) with limitation of motion of the lumbar spine, Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 14, 2004
- Citation
- 0418779
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 0418779.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and service connection for sleep apnea, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the prior rating decisions and no evidence linking the sleep apnea to service or a service-connected disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but remanded other claims related to obstructive sleep apnea, bladder condition, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development, including an examination to address potential neurological symptoms related to the Veteran's service-connected back condition.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.
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