The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The decision requires further development of the record to determine if the veteran is entitled to a higher rating based on incapacitation or separate ratings for neurological and orthopedic impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 3, 2005
- Citation
- 0512211
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 0512211.
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 remanded the case due to the need for additional VA examinations and addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities, as well as the qualifications of the November 2023 examiner.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 21, 2017. The remand includes requests for additional VA examinations and for obtaining private treatment records.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms and range of motion.
- Granted
The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his back disability.
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