The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and hip conditions must be remanded due to incomplete STRs. The RO will need to search for missing active duty STRs from September 1964 to September 1966, provide notice if they are not found, and obtain a new opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the STRs associated with the Veteran’s period of active duty are missing and incomplete, which has caused inadequate VA examinations based on incorrect factual premises related to the wrong serviceman's medical history. The RO will need to search for these records and provide notice if they cannot be found.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine, Left hip condition to include degenerative changes, Right hip condition to include degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 8, 2020
- Citation
- A20018116
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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.