The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease associated with impairment of the right thigh is being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board requires a VA examiner to provide opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of her lumbar spine disabilities.
The deciding factor: Insufficient evidence exists to determine the etiology or aggravation of the Veteran's lumbar spine disabilities, specifically whether they are proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected right hip disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, impairment of the right thigh
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18151681
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 18151681.
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.
- Denied
The Board found the reduction in disability evaluation from 40% to 20% was improper and void ab initio due to inadequate examination for reduction.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, finding that his current disabilities are related to his active duty service.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc disease is rated at 20 percent, and his PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective April 11, 2023, and SMC based on housebound status effective the same date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a prejudicial denial of due process and the case is being remanded to correct the mailing address for the Veteran and his representative, send them a copy of the August 2025 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC), and return it to the Board.
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