The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, chronic liver disorder with elevated ALT readings, and right knee disorder due to secondary service-connected conditions. These issues are now remanded for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for these conditions as they are found to be related to other service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The claims have been reopened based on new evidence provided during the Veteran's hearing, which suggests a link between his current conditions and his service-connected left knee and ankle disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back disorder (including spina bifida), Chronic liver disorder, Right knee disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19195051
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 19195051.
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 an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for right knee and right ankle disorders.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, left foot disorder (flatfoot and plantar fasciitis), right foot disorder (flatfoot and plantar fasciitis), left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, jaw disorder, hernias, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, left index finger disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the appeal period.
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