The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, right knee degenerative arthritis, and other conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issues of rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD and anxiety disorder), service connection for a muscle condition, service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss are also being remanded.
The deciding factor: The claims need additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to determine the etiology of his lumbar spine disability. The issues of rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD and anxiety disorder), service connection for a muscle condition, service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss are also being remanded.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2018
- Citation
- 1815358
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 1815358.
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 has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, as there are insufficient medical opinions and records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied, and his claims for right knee, left knee, right hand, left hand, GERD, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. The effective date of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted on December 14, 2022.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of left knee condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction over the August 2021 rating decision. Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis are granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right shoulder labral tear, including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion. The appeal is dismissed.
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