The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected chronic low back strain is being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding whether his service-connected condition has aggravated other disabilities.
The deciding factor: The November 2017 VA examiner did not address whether the Veteran’s service-connected lumbar strain has aggravated any of his other back conditions or associated radiculopathy, which needs to be explored in a new evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic low back strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, IVDS (intervertebral disc syndrome), lumbar levoscoliosis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19128841
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for effective dates prior to September 27, 2024, for the awards of service connection for various knee and back conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a deviated septum and right wrist pain, while denying service connection for sleep apnea. The decision also addressed various rating issues and effective dates.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for initial ratings higher than the assigned percentages for service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, SMC at the M level based on loss of use of the lower extremities, and SMC at the O level based on the award of SMC L and SMC M. The claim for SMC based on housebound status was dismissed as moot.
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