The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 10 percent, but he contends that his pain and other symptoms are more disabling than the current rating. The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s low back condition was unrelated to his in-service injury and attributed his current lumbar spine and leg complaints to a mower accident, which is not supported by the evidence of record.
- Claimed conditions
- musculoskeletal thoracic spine pain, back disability residual to thoracic area injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2018
- Citation
- 18117650
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 18117650.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for musculoskeletal thoracic spine pain prior to May 15, 2013 and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's thoracic spine disability prior to May 15, 2013. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's thoracic spine disability prior to May 15, 2013. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for musculoskeletal thoracic spine pain and TDIU are being remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to issues related to the Veteran's musculoskeletal thoracic spine pain and TDIU.
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