The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including separate neurological and orthopedic examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and its manifestations. The case will be reviewed again by the AMC based on the additional evidence.
The deciding factor: Additional development is necessary due to changes in rating criteria and the need to evaluate both orthopedic and neurologic manifestations separately under Diagnostic Code 5293 (2003).
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2006
- Citation
- 0627987
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 0627987.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities due to new and relevant evidence having been received.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD, left wrist sprain, right knee strain, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depressive disorder was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings related to chronic renal failure, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and special monthly compensation.
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