The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's lower back disability, specifically during flare-ups and after repeated use.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner was unable to provide a definitive opinion on the functional impact of the Veteran’s reported flare-ups without resorting to speculation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20000175
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 back disabilities of residuals of a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra, and DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine, as secondary to the service-connected right knee instability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition due to new and material evidence. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and possibly an updated examination.
- 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.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.