The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and left leg conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not adequately address the Veteran’s contentions about his low back condition being related to wear and tear over a 20-year military career, nor did they discuss whether the degenerative process likely began in service or within one year of discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the low back, Neuropathy of the left leg (also claimed as nerve damage, left leg)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20068640
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 remands the claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the low back and neuropathy of the left leg as secondary to a service-connected disability, due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the low back, as the severity of the disorder did not approximate findings which would support a higher evaluation.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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