The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple level disc herniation and arthritic changes to the spine, and degenerative joint disease of the knees, as an opinion is needed regarding the cause or aggravation of these conditions during National Guard training.
The deciding factor: An orthopedic physician's opinion is required to determine if the veteran's current lumbosacral disability and bilateral knee disabilities were incurred in-service or permanently increased in severity by exercise associated with National Guard training, including sit-ups and/or running.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple level disc herniation and arthritic changes to the spine, Degenerative joint disease of the knees
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2009
- Citation
- 0901421
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 Board remands the case to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically addressing the role of his service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the hips, hands, and knees as well as panic disorder with agoraphobia due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for low back, knee, and hypertension disorders.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the knees and denied higher initial ratings for degenerative disc disease, L4-L5 and Raynaud's phenomenon.
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