The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to incomplete examinations and insufficient reasoning in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records and undergo new examinations to determine if his back condition is related to service or aggravated by his left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examination was inadequate for rating purposes, particularly regarding range of motion testing and functional loss due to pain. Additionally, there were insufficient opinions on whether the Veteran's lumbosacral spondylosis is related to service or aggravated by his left knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spondylosis, intervertebral disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19188185
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 19188185.
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 appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, namely lumbosacral spondylosis, was dismissed due to the Veteran's concurrent election of available Appeals Modernization Act review options.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as there is evidence suggesting a secondary relationship to his GERD, which is already service-connected.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lateral epicondylitis and olecranon bursitis of the elbow is also remanded due to lack of current diagnosis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for a low back disorder, finding that there are insufficient opinions regarding direct service connection and secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms during service have been considered.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the Board is remanding several issues including service connection for various back disabilities and peripheral neuropathy.
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.