The veteran seeks an evaluation in excess of the current 10 percent rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records, conduct a VA examination, and consider the appropriate disability rating under the amended VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claim requires additional evidence due to recent changes in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities and the need for updated medical records and an examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 22, 2004
- Citation
- 0426224
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 0426224.
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 Board granted an effective date of February 25, 2020, for a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and January 20, 2017, for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), but denied an earlier effective date than March 6, 2020, for a 40 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine were denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's low back condition and left ulnar neuropathy are both being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting evidence regarding their severity.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to potential worsening of symptoms.
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