The Veteran's increased rating claim for degenerative disk disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as his symptomatology may have worsened since his last examination in October 2016.
The deciding factor: There is evidence suggesting that the Veteran’s degenerative disk disease symptoms have worsened, necessitating a new examination to assess current severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disk disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19119533
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,240 · Granted: 28% (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 19119533.
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 remands the claim for a neck disorder to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck condition, including whether it is related to her military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent from December 12, 2022 onwards. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to this date.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his lumbosacral spine disability was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Denied
The Veteran's back condition, rated at 40 percent since April 20, 2018, is not entitled to a higher rating as the evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.