The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected myofascial lower back pain is being remanded due to the need to address potential service connection for arthritis and disc disease, as well as obtain updated medical records.
The deciding factor: The case requires further development including obtaining updated VA and/or private treatment records, a comprehensive orthopedic examination, and consideration of whether any arthritis or disc disease found is related to the veteran's service-connected entity.
- Claimed conditions
- myofascial lower back pain, arthritis (DJD), disc disease (DDD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 11, 2008
- Citation
- 0842731
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0842731.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, finding that it is causally related to his active military service. The TDIU claim was also granted from February 2004.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for myofascial lower back pain was denied. The issue of a separate compensable rating for neurological symptoms associated with the service-connected myofascial lower back pain is pending.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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