The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine has been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim, but further examination is needed to determine if his back disability was aggravated by his service-connected left knee strain.
The deciding factor: The examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine is at least as likely as not aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected left knee strain and right knee degenerative arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2024
- Citation
- 24008916
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 24008916.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of loss of use of bilateral lower extremities due to tetraplegia as secondary to degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine is dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted under the PACT Act, and his degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine rating is restored.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity is granted an increased rating, but tinnitus remains at the maximum schedular evaluation.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU is granted from June 20, 2017. The VA has remanded the issues of increased rating for thoracolumbar spine disability and SMC based on 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TBI are remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.