The Board has remanded the issues of rating DDD of the lumbar spine, left and right lower radiculopathy, left patellofemoral syndrome (knee condition), right patellofemoral syndrome status post ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft and lysis and resection of adhesions without manipulation, and pitted keratolysis for further development. The issues on appeal are related to the merits of service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to final adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal due to inconsistencies in the examinations provided and the need for clarification regarding flare-ups and pain during use.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Left lower radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, Right lower radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, Left patellofemoral syndrome (knee condition), Right patellofemoral syndrome status post ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft and lysis and resection of adhesions without manipulation, Pitted keratolysis (foot condition)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20027560
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 20027560.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, including DDD of the lumbar spine. The current VA opinions are deemed inadequate due to their failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of in-service injury and continuous symptomatology since service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that his service-connected condition aggravated his nonservice-connected OSA.
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