The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has raised concerns about worsening symptoms and flare-ups that impact his ability to function. The Board requires updated evidence from a VA examiner to determine if an increased rating is warranted based on these new findings.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2017
- Citation
- 1738894
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 1738894.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability during the period from March 30, 2010, to March 13, 2015, but denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the same condition during the period from February 4, 2008, to March 29, 2009.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating from 20 percent to 60 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis was granted effective March 30, 2009, to March 29, 2010.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis was granted, but only up to a 40 percent rating as of March 6, 2017. Prior to that date, the rating remained at 20 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the April 2018 remand directives have not been substantially complied with, and the Veteran's thoracolumbar disability claim and lower extremity radiculopathy claims are therefore being remanded for further development.
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