The Board remands the claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion and updated VA treatment records.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that an additional VA medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed lumbosacral spine disorder is necessary due to a lack of sufficient evidence in the record.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21062926
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 Board granted service connection for a low back condition based on the Veteran's chronic symptoms since active duty and treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right wrist sprain, lumbosacral spine disorder, right hip replacement, shin splints, and hypertension as further development is needed to obtain VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to deficiencies in prior medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher initial rating, and service connection for various disorders, including those secondary to the left knee disability with obesity as an intermediary step.
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