The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for DDD of L5-S1 with IVDS is denied. The Court has remanded the case due to new evidence and further development is required. Service connection for a bilateral hand disability, including DJD, is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability and prostate cancer are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current bilateral hand disability was found in equipoise with service connection, warranting further review to determine if it was incurred during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of L5-S1 with Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19106527
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 remands the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis as new and relevant evidence has been received since the previous denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a left-hand condition is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection for mononeuropathy to the left hand fourth finger with parasthesia of skin in an October 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.
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