The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous directives regarding service connection for thoracolumbar spine and right hip disabilities. The claims are now pending again.
The deciding factor: The previous medical opinions did not address whether the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine and right hip disabilities were directly related to military service or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lumbar stenosis and radiculopathy, right hip trochanteric bursitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20034119
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 20034119.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip trochanteric bursitis, left hip trochanteric bursitis, right iliotibial band inflammation, and left iliotibial band inflammation due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining private treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of information regarding whether the Veteran experiences ankylosis in her right hip, which could affect her disability rating. The case will be returned for further evaluation and clarification.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a right hip condition, back condition, and right ankle strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and effective dates as they were improperly filed under the new Direct Review docket system.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.