The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted service connection. The Veteran's leukopenia and left shoulder surgical scar are denied compensable ratings. Service connection for aplastic anemia, bilateral wrist condition, and bilateral hip conditions are remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation. PTSD and persistent depressive disorder, dysthymia are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is related to his in-service back injury. The Veteran's leukopenia does not require continuous medication or transfusions of platelets or red cells and has not resulted in recurring infections. Service connection for aplastic anemia, bilateral wrist condition, and bilateral hip conditions are remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, leukopenia, aplastic anemia, left wrist condition (claimed as major joint pain and inflammatory disease), right wrist condition (also claimed as major joint pain and inflammatory disease), left hip condition (also claimed as major joint pain and inflammatory disease), right hip condition (also claimed as major joint pain and inflammatory disease)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2023
- Citation
- 23023751
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 23023751.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, as there are insufficient medical opinions and records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied, and his claims for right knee, left knee, right hand, left hand, GERD, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. The effective date of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted on December 14, 2022.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of left knee condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction over the August 2021 rating decision. Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis are granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, bilateral hearing loss, Type II diabetes, bilateral glaucoma, OSA, cervical disc herniation, and other musculoskeletal issues are denied.,Service connection is not established for any of the claimed conditions.
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