The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain has been reopened, and the Board finds that his lumbar spine internal disc derangement is related to his service-connected conditions. The issues of residuals from stress fractures to bilateral tibia and metatarsals, initial rating for service-connected bilateral feet conditions, ratings in excess of 20 percent for service-connected residuals of stress fracture of the right proximal femur with right hip flexor strain and left proximal femur with left hip flexor strain, and TDIU are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine internal disc derangement is related to his service-connected conditions, including his bilateral feet conditions and stress fractures. The issues of residuals from stress fractures to bilateral tibia and metatarsals, initial rating for service-connected bilateral feet conditions, ratings in excess of 20 percent for service-connected residuals of stress fracture of the right proximal femur with right hip flexor strain and left proximal femur with left hip flexor strain, and TDIU are remanded to allow for further development.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, lumbar spine internal disc derangement, stress fracture to left tibia, stress fracture to right tibia, stress fracture to right ankle, stress fracture to left ankle, residuals from stress fracture to left cortical third and fourth metatarsal, bilateral feet conditions (including claw foot with metatarsalgia, hallux valgus, hammer toes, and degenerative joint disease of the bilateral feet), residuals of stress fracture of right proximal femur with right hip flexor strain, residuals of stress fracture to left proximal femur with left hip flexor strain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20009732
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 20009732.
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 Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that it is related to his in-service injury. The claimant did not contest this decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and IVDS. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury during active duty and his continuous symptoms since then.
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