The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion, and a need for further development including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion relied on by the Board was based solely on the absence of documented injury during service without considering the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injury and continuity of symptoms since then.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 22, 2021
- Citation
- 21016203
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 21016203.
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 lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, cervical strain, plantar fasciitis, and hysterectomy are all found to be related to her service. The Board granted these claims based on direct service connection.
- Partly granted
The veteran is granted a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to June 4, 2020, for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and right rotator cuff strain are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty error regarding workers' compensation and Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran's back disability. The AOJ is required to obtain these records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis due to service connection. The AOJ is required to obtain a medical opinion regarding direct service connection for these conditions.
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