The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine and has remanded his claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder to include pleural plaques, secondary to asbestos exposure, and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The respiratory disorder claim is remanded as there has been no statement of the case issued yet, and the total disability rating claim requires further development to clarify the impact of the Veteran's service-connected conditions on his employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine, Respiratory disorder to include pleural plaques
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19164837
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 19164837.
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 degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and foraminal stenosis based on a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine to obtain a new medical opinion that considers an in-service injury after appropriate efforts are made to obtain the appellant's service treatment records.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, bilateral neuropathy below the hips, and a skin disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for further development and readjudication due to an incomplete medical nexus opinion.
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