The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to higher initial evaluations for the service-connected lumbar spine disability and claims for loss of teeth 8 and 9 due to trauma and a surgical scar of the lumbar spine remain in appellate status.
The deciding factor: The case is being remanded because additional development is necessary prior to final adjudication, including obtaining private treatment records and affording the Veteran a VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- history of degenerative arthritis lumbar spine with surgical repair of herniated discs, loss of teeth 8 and 9 due to trauma, surgical scar of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2015
- Citation
- 1531501
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 1531501.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted from August 25, 2008. The effective date for TDIU is established based on the earliest claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, while the effective date for DEA benefits is set to match the TDIU grant.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a surgical scar of the lumbar spine.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment and income.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a compensable rating for surgical scar of the lumbar spine.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.