The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of the rating and effective date assigned for his service-connected DDD of the thoracolumbar spine. The TDIU issue will be handled pending resolution of these matters.
The deciding factor: The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the DDD matter, as hearing testimony could have a significant impact on the outcome of both issues.
- Claimed conditions
- status-post left knee replacement with scar, DDD of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 8, 2017
- Citation
- 1737914
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 1737914.
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 Veteran's claim for increased ratings was continuously pursued, and the appellant is eligible to charge agent fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the June 2024 rating decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a left lower extremity nerve disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DDD of the thoracolumbar spine. The Veteran was also granted TDIU on a schedular basis for the time period prior to May 3, 2022.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder tendinitis and DDD of the thoracolumbar spine have been dismissed as he requested to cancel his scheduled Board hearing and withdraw his appeals.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 16, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran was employed full-time as an electrician from 2007 to 2013 and did not raise entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU.
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