The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive VA examination to determine the current manifestations of his service-connected degenerative disc disease at L4-L5, as well as neurological impairment.
The deciding factor: The veteran has not been provided with a recent comprehensive VA examination and there are indications of more significant neurological impairment based on MRI findings. The Board finds that remand is necessary to allow for proper evaluation of the disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at L4-L5
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2005
- Citation
- 0511853
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 0511853.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression is granted at a 70 percent rating since April 23, 2012. The claim for increased ratings and TDIU prior to April 23, 2012, are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied as no indication of intent to apply prior to November 26, 2014 was found.,Service connection for asthma (claimed as a lung inhalational injury) is granted based on the onset during service and continued since then.,The Veteran's TBI claim requires clarification due to insufficient rationale in the August 2017 VA examination report.,A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the low back disability (DDD at L4-L5).,Left wrist and left shoulder conditions require a new VA examination for proper assessment.,Hypertension, gastroenteritis, and sleep apnea are remanded issues as no specific service connection theory or exposure basis is provided.,Service connection for asthma (claimed as a lung inhalational injury) is granted based on the onset during service and continued since then.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back strain with DJD and DDD at L4-L5 was denied for increased evaluations in both periods.
- Denied
The Board found that the veteran's DDD at L4-L5 approximates mild but not intervertebral disc syndrome prior to January 31, 2003, and moderate but not greater intervertebral disc syndrome with recurring attacks after January 31, 2003. The veteran was assigned a 20 percent rating for his DDD at L4-L5 effective from January 31, 2003.
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