The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoracic spine disability are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with proper VCAA notice.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to substantiate the veteran's claims due to recent changes in VA regulations and laws.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at T7-8 with neuralgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2003
- Citation
- 0327148
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 0327148.
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 reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar disorder, but additional medical examination is needed to clarify the etiology of any current low back disability. The issue of an increased rating for residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at T7-8 with neuralgia remains inextricably intertwined with the newly raised issue of service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the lower thoracic spine.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of entitlement to an extraschedular rating prior to January 26, 2005, for residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at T7-8 with neuralgia due to failure to show that the applicable statutory and regulatory provisions were incorrectly applied.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at T7-8 with neuralgia from January 26, 2005.
- Denied
The Board denied an extraschedular rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability, finding that the evidence did not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.
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