The veteran seeks service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine. He contends that his in-service knee and shoulder conditions were early manifestations of his current back condition, and he also claims that his back disability is secondary to a service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the bilateral knees.
The deciding factor: The examiner must determine whether any diagnosed back disability was incurred during active duty service or if it was permanently aggravated by ACDUTRA service.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2008
- Citation
- 0833188
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 0833188.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an effective date prior to December 22, 2005, for the award of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine is dismissed due to the appellant's death.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine did not have onset in service or within one year of service, and was not caused or aggravated by his active service, including spinal taps. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for the residuals of a right ankle sprain and for a higher (compensable) initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters.
- Granted
The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, effective as of the date of the decision. The rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy remains at 10 percent.
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