The veteran seeks service connection for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, which he claims is due to a back injury sustained during service. However, his service medical records are missing, making it difficult to determine if this condition is related to his military service.
The deciding factor: Service connection cannot be established without proof of in-service injury and evidence linking the current disability to that injury.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 10, 2008
- Citation
- 0830669
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 0830669.
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 Veteran's back condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted due to flare-ups caused by prolonged sitting, standing or laying down.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's back disability is being evaluated again, including a new VA examination and retrospective opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining new evidence and scheduling an examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 16, 2009.
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