The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disorder has been reopened and remanded. The claims for left knee disability, flat feet, depressive disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), right hip disability, and history of left ankle fracture are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records show in-service low back pain. The VA examiner found no evidence to support a direct service connection for the current lumbar spine disorder or any other claimed conditions. However, an addendum opinion is needed regarding secondary service connection and additional diagnoses of osteomalacia and end-stage osteoarthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Lumbar Spine Disorder, Left Knee Disability, Flat Feet, Depressive Disorder (claimed as depression), Hypertension, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (claimed as acid reflux), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Right Hip Disability, History of Left Ankle Fracture (also claimed as left lower leg condition)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20077524
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 20077524.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
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