The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease (DJD) and degenerative disc disease (DDD). The VA examiner is requested to review all pertinent records, including service treatment records and post-service medical records, to determine if there is a nexus between the current back disability and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the August 2018 VA examination was inadequate due to not addressing the October 1982 in-service notation of slight scoliosis and the lack of surgical records from April 2019. The examiner is requested to provide a complete opinion on nexus.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, degenerative joint disease (DJD), degenerative disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 6, 2022
- Citation
- 22038544
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 22038544.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand arthritis and left hand arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve have been remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with left sciatica. The right lower extremity sciatica claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome, spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica have been granted as they are related to his active duty service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar strain, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, is causally related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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