The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected low back pain with muscle spasm is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.
The deciding factor: The case was previously remanded, but necessary examination findings have not been provided. The Veteran needs further VA examinations to assess the severity of her lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- low back pain with muscle spasm
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2017
- Citation
- 1747303
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1747303.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back pain with muscle spasm and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, while denying earlier effective dates and higher ratings for tinnitus, and remanding claims for right hand third digit laceration, insomnia disorder, and right knee disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's low back pain with muscle spasm is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine is not warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA orthopedic examination to address range of motion and functional loss due to pain. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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