The Veteran's DDD of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and his depressive disorder NOS is rated at 70 percent. Both conditions are denied for higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition based on current symptomatology and diagnostic criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine, Depressive disorder NOS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18137617
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 18137617.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and hypertension are all being reviewed.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder NOS and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for tension headaches, but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder NOS, granted service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to the service-connected depressive disorder NOS, and granted Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ due to the service-connected depressive disorder NOS.
- Remanded (sent back)
The case is remanded to obtain outstanding private medical treatment records and reschedule a VA examination for the Veteran's back disability.
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