The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and medical opinions.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to determine if the current degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, is related to an in-service injury or sprain.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20055325
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20055325.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for headaches. The proposed severance of service connection for hypertension is also dismissed as a matter of law.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's TDIU from April 1, 2020 is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chest tightness with shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis (claimed as congestion), and degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine. However, a 10 percent rating was granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis.
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