The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease lumbosacral spine and associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to additional evidence received after the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).
The deciding factor: Additional pertinent VA treatment records show that the Veteran has been treated in the Emergency Room for severe back pain, warranting a new examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease lumbosacral spine, Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2016
- Citation
- 1626674
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 1626674.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald (28 Vet. App. 158, 2016).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 10 percent prior to August 20, 2019 and denied for a higher rating. Since August 20, 2019, the Veteran's condition is rated at 40 percent and also denied for a higher rating. The Board has remanded issues regarding service connection for shoulder conditions and cervical spine.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hip arthritis with hip joint replacement and left hip trochanteric, bursitis, degenerative arthritis, and prosthetic left hip joint, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 100 percent.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee condition, and thus grants service connection for this disability.
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.