The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint disabilities of the back is reopened. The appeal remains pending with respect to his claims for PTSD and a low back disability, which are both remanded.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been received that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran’s claim for service connection for arthritis of the spine. However, further examination and development are needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to his service, as well as whether his low back disability is related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Joint Disabilities of the Back","current_diagnosis":"Arthritis of the spine"}, {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disability to include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)","current_diagnosis":"Anxiety"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19163084
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 19163084.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 20, 2023 for a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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