The Veteran's claim for increased rating and service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that a new opinion is needed as to whether the Veteran’s currently diagnosed back conditions are a progression of or were caused or aggravated by his already service-connected lumbosacral strain, and an opinion is also needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, lumbar radiculopathy, cervical spine, left ankle tenosynovitis, right ankle tenosynovitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right hip condition, left hip condition, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20075887
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 20075887.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected back and sciatica disabilities. The evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
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