The Veteran seeks an increased evaluation for a lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, currently rated as 10 percent disabling from October 2, 2007 to June 17, 2014, and as 20 percent thereafter. The case is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding additional functional loss due to flare-ups.
The deciding factor: The Board must obtain a new opinion addressing the Veteran's claims folder and any pertinent medical records to determine if there is objective evidence of pain on motion, weakness, excess fatigability, and/or incoordination associated with the service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes. The examiner must also indicate whether, and to what extent, the Veteran experiences likely functional loss due to pain and/or any of the other symptoms noted above during flare-ups and/or with repeated use.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2017
- Citation
- 1742955
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 1742955.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee disability is dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and bilateral hip acetabular tears, which are found to be proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for various conditions are being remanded due to the need to obtain outstanding treatment records from TRICARE.
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