The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant's current back disorder, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, is related to his military service. The case is being remanded for a VA medical examination and further review.
The deciding factor: The claim requires clarification on whether the appellant's current back disorder is related to his military service due to doubt raised by post-service treatment records and the need for a medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- back disorder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2010
- Citation
- 1010465
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 1010465.
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 veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a back disorder and tinnitus, as new and material evidence was not submitted.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and remanded several other issues, including service connection for various disorders and increased ratings for the right knee. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee instability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, and neuropathy as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.
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