The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and further evidentiary review.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the current medical opinions are inadequate and requires new evidence-based evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative spondylosis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder, tendonitis of bilateral hands
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1737183
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 1737183.
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's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,Prior to December 12, 2003, the Veteran was not found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.,From December 12, 2003, to January 31, 2005, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot as he had a combined rating of 100% and was not permanently housebound.,From February 1, 2005, to February 27, 2019, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.,From February 28, 2019, to April 3, 2020, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot as he had a combined rating of 100% and was in receipt of special monthly compensation.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative spondylosis and right and left knee patellar-femoral degenerative changes, cause severe impairment such that he is unable to ambulate without an assistive device such as a wheelchair. The Board finds eligibility for specially adapted housing due to loss of use of both lower extremities.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to lack of in-service treatment records.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claims for service connection for scars of the elbows and knees and recurrent neck pain were also denied.
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