The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder DJD, thoracolumbar spine DJD, cervical spine DJD, left index finger fracture, and right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claim of osteopenia/osteoporosis was vacated by a Joint Motion and remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the claims were not properly addressed due to incomplete VA examinations and ordered additional examination and opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right shoulder, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the thoracolumbar spine, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the cervical spine, Residuals of a left index finger fracture, Right foot plantar fasciitis, calcaneal heel spurs second and third metatarsal fracture, Osteopenia/osteoporosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20057506
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 20057506.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bladder cancer, hypertension, Bowen's disease (skin condition), thyroid condition (hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism), back disability, left hip disability, osteopenia/osteoporosis, and right foot vascular disorder are all granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are also found to be secondary to these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his DJD of the thoracolumbar spine is being remanded due to a need for additional medical opinion regarding the functional impairment associated with his condition, without considering the beneficial effects of medication.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for DJD of the right hip with limitation of rotation and adduction, and higher ratings for DJD of the thoracolumbar spine.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for cervical spine DJD, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete development.
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