The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded to allow for additional development, including a VA orthopedic examination.
The deciding factor: The Board instructed the RO to arrange for a VA orthopedic examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's lumbar spine disorder. The examiner was to provide an opinion regarding whether the April 1998 VA examination findings represented a chronic increase or temporary exacerbation of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2006
- Citation
- 0620353
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 0620353.
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 remanded all issues to the VA for further action. The Veteran's claims are not granted or denied at this time.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded all issues to correct an error in providing the veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and he is awarded a rating of 40 percent for his degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The appeal concerning entitlement to an effective date prior to April 10, 2003 for the grant of service connection for the lumbar spine disability is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions, a rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a rating higher than 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims are also being remanded to obtain medical examinations and opinions on his cervical spine disability and service connection for sleep apnea.
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