The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability. The TDIU claim will also be referred for consideration on an extraschedular basis.
The deciding factor: The case requires additional evidence and assessment due to recent developments in the Veteran's treatment and employment status.
- Claimed conditions
- low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2016
- Citation
- 1645546
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 1645546.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted a 10 percent rating from July 1, 1997 to October 30, 2006. Since then, he is entitled to a higher rating for this condition. The arthritis of the thoracic spine has also been rated at its maximum schedular value.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral metatarsalgia with calluses, low back strain with degenerative changes, and arthritis of the thoracic spine were denied. The Board also denied a TDIU claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands for a new evaluation of the appellant's service-connected low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been raised by the record and must be adjudicated.
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.