The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteopenia was denied. The Board found that osteopenia alone is not a disability warranting VA compensation benefits and there was no underlying disease or injury to which the osteopenia may be related. The claims for increased ratings were remanded due to incomplete examination reports.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's osteopenia findings in service records did not constitute a current disability, as it is merely a laboratory finding of decreased bone mass and does not represent a chronic disability for which VA benefits can be awarded.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteopenia, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right shoulder, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the thoracolumbar spine, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the cervical spine, Residuals of left index finger fracture, Right foot plantar fasciitis, calcaneal heel spurs second and third metatarsal fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19103809
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with mild primary arthritis in the facet joints and bilateral tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and a rating increase for left ear hearing loss. The decision also remanded an issue related to right foot plantar fasciitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, right foot plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hand joint pain to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with adjustment disorder and depressed mood is granted a rating of 50 percent, while his bilateral hearing loss is denied a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims.
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