The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected herniated disc at L5-S1 and degenerative changes at L4-L5 and L5-S1 is being remanded due to the need for VCAA notice, a VA spine examination, and review of the claim under both old and current rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claim requires additional development including VCAA compliance, a new VA spine examination, and consideration of both old and amended rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- herniated disc at L5-S1, degenerative changes at L4-L5 and L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2004
- Citation
- 0402370
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,599 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0402370.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a back condition to be addressed with a new, adequate medical opinion.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his herniated disc at L5-S1 or radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to January 19, 2012, and cervical spine DDD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition, including a herniated disc at L5-S1. The case is REMANDED for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected herniated disc at L5-S1 and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.
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