The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome is remanded due to recent worsening symptoms and need for updated VA treatment records.
The deciding factor: Recent evidence indicates that the Veteran's back disability has worsened, necessitating a new examination to assess current severity.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18137745
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 18137745.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and ensuring substantial compliance with previous remand directives.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, but granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 2023 for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, a scar associated with it, and dismissed claims for other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS was rated at 10 percent prior to February 8, 2016. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.
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