The Board has determined that further development is needed regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degeneration secondary to right ankle injury. The remand includes requesting a review of the medical records and providing an opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed back condition, as well as his service-connected right ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the January 2017 VA examiner's opinion was inadequate due to not considering certain medical records and the Veteran's lay statements. The remand requires a more comprehensive review of the medical evidence and an updated opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed back condition and his service-connected right ankle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degeneration, right ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 30, 2022
- Citation
- 22049273
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 22049273.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine degeneration was granted a 40 percent rating effective February 24, 2021. The other issues were remanded for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degeneration, sprain, and pain with right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as these conditions began during active duty training (ACDUTRA) and have continued since then.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine degeneration is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD are denied ratings in excess of their current assigned ratings.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities, specifically right and left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, have been granted increased ratings. Additionally, a temporary total rating for convalescence after left ankle stabilization surgery from March 28, 2014 to June 2, 2014 has been granted, along with an effective date of March 28, 2014 for the Veteran's left ankle scar.
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