The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 23, 2011.,Since then, the Veteran testified that his symptoms have worsened and requested a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examination in September 2011 did not adequately assess the Veteran's current radicular pain and other neurological manifestations of his low back disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes at L4-5, Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 4, 2014
- Citation
- 1414797
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 1414797.
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 has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from August 6, 2008 due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, left knee, urinary, and scar disabilities as there is no persuasive evidence that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his period of honorable military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for the AOJ to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a pre-decisional hearing before the AOJ.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1318, as there was no evidence linking the Veteran's service or any service-connected disability to his cause of death.
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