The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for DDD lumbar spine with IVDS and mechanical low back pain (claimed as lower back injury) due to insufficient evidence linking his current diagnosis to service. A VA examination is needed to provide a medical opinion on this issue.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not sufficient medical evidence to decide whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of DDD lumbar spine with IVDS and mechanical low back pain (claimed as lower back injury) is related to service, specifically due to an in-service truck accident in July 1975.
- Claimed conditions
- DDD lumbar spine, IVDS (Intervertebral Disc Syndrome), mechanical low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2019
- Citation
- A19002790
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,071 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19002790.
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 appeal for service connection regarding cervical strain with IVDS, spinal fusion, and spinal stenosis was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS, as well as bilateral pes planus. The claims are now remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, herniated disc, IVDS and spinal stenosis is rated at 40 percent since August 19, 2020. The appeal period did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from February 5, 2025 and granted a TDIU effective October 16, 2023. The rating for IVDS and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with spondylosis remains at 20 percent from December 12, 2022 to April 6, 2024.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.