The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative arthritis. The examiner should also opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not that any service-connected disability caused or worsened the lumbar disorder beyond its natural progression.
The deciding factor: The Board found the VA examination inadequate and requested a new opinion on the etiology of the lumbar spine disorder, including whether there was aggravation due to service-connected hip disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Hip Disability, Left Hip Disability, Lumbar Disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18158495
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 18158495.
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 has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right hip disability, finding that her current 10 percent rating adequately reflects her symptoms and limitations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for both a right hip disability and a left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's observable symptoms of pain and stiffness began during his active service and have persisted.
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