The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to communication issues and the need for updated medical evidence.
The deciding factor: Communication difficulties with the Veteran necessitate additional efforts, including making new attempts to reach him and requesting more recent treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18102146
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 18102146.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of PTSD, anxiety, depression, a disability manifested by chronic sleep impairment, and TDIU. The hearing loss claim is denied as it does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 20% to 10% for chronic lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease and spondylosis was not proper, and has reinstated the original 20% rating effective December 21, 2023.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding medical records from his treatment at Choice First Chiropractic. The Board needs to obtain these records before making a decision on the rating for his chronic lumbar spine strain.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection and increased rating, as well as attorney fees in the amount of 20% of past-due benefits awarded. The appeal was denied only for the grant of an earlier effective date for tinnitus.
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