The veteran's initial service connection for mechanical low back pain was granted in January 2002 with a 10 percent disability rating. The appeal is about the appropriate disability rating, and additional evidence is needed to determine if the current condition warrants an increase beyond the existing 10 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claim involves determining whether her mechanical low back pain warrants a higher initial disability rating than the currently assigned 10 percent rate.
- Claimed conditions
- mechanical low back pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2005
- Citation
- 0528229
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 0528229.
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 Board granted service connection for mechanical low back pain, musculoskeletal neck and cervical spine, and ear condition (such as earaches) based on the evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active service with continuity of symptoms to the present.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to the VA for further examination and documentation. The Veteran's claims are being sent back to the VA for additional evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of mechanical low back pain and congenital fusion of L3-4 is remanded. The Board needs more information to decide if the condition was aggravated by military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for mechanical low back pain and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board needs to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA nerve examination.
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