The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of medical records and a need for a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The AOJ did not conduct the additional development requested in the October 2018 Board remand, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20053454
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 20053454.
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.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia was dismissed, and the claim for degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his bilateral hand disability, left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tear with mild bursitis, left knee status post arthroscopic repair lateral meniscus tear, and degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine due to outstanding treatment records and inadequate examination reports.
- Denied
The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current right foot or back disabilities to his service, and thus denied both claims.
- Granted
The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 30, 2003. The RO has also granted a separate 10 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity associated with his lumbar spine condition.
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