The RO has remanded the case for further development, including a more contemporary examination of the veteran's service-connected low back disability and completion of VA Form 21-8940 regarding his TDIU claim. The effective date will be assigned if an increased rating is awarded in relation to these claims.
The deciding factor: The RO found that the March 2003 examination was inadequate for rating purposes, as more than three years have passed since the last evaluation and the veteran's neurological symptoms are worse than at the time of the previous examination. The RO also noted uncertainty regarding the veteran's employment status due to his retirement from teaching.
- Claimed conditions
- intervertebral disc syndrome, status post hemilaminectomy at L5-S1, with radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2006
- Citation
- 0613873
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 0613873.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on either incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection back disorder, as due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE), was dismissed because the appeal request was not timely filed.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome based on the Veteran's continuous symptoms since service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of August 26, 2021, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement.
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