The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and a claim for service connection for depression are both remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for updated VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's back disability and whether his depression is aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18152865
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 18152865.
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.
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- Denied
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- Dismissed
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The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, prostate adenocarcinoma with urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are remanded due to the PACT Act requirements.,A VA examination and medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's conceded toxic exposure risk activity are needed.
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