The Veteran's appeal is remanded to address his claims for separate compensable disability evaluations for neurological manifestations of service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine involving the lower extremities, and disc disease of the cervical spine involving the upper extremities.
The deciding factor: The Court found that the Board did not adequately address evidence favorable to the Veteran's claims regarding his neurological components of his service-connected spinal disabilities involving the upper and lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease of the Thoracolumbar Spine, Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2015
- Citation
- 1549846
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 1549846.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 40 percent disability rating for his degenerative joint and disc disease in the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there was not sustained and material improvement in his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20% prior to September 1, 2020 and 40% thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for increased ratings of radiculopathy.
- Denied
The Veteran's back disability was granted a 20 percent rating prior to January 8, 2020. Ratings in excess of 10 percent were denied for both lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is not rated higher than 20 percent, and his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder is not rated higher than 30 percent. The claims for increased ratings are remanded.
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.