The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The Veteran testified that his service-connected disabilities have worsened and prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's testimony indicated that his service-connected thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease has worsened, preventing him from working.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19117838
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19117838.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for spinal stenosis of the back with degenerative arthritis, to include associated radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for readjudication of the claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, lower back scar, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability is denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed because the veteran died while it was pending. The decision does not affect the right of an eligible person to continue the appeal.
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