The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and the need for further development, including a VA examination.
The deciding factor: The examination report was deemed inadequate as it did not provide information on functional loss during flare-ups of the lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- discogenic disease, status post discectomy L5-S1, residuals of laminectomy and discectomy (lumbar spine disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19131452
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 veteran's back condition, including lumbar myositis, bulging disc, degenerative joint disease, reverse lordosis, spondylosis, and discogenic disease, is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 60 percent based on the severity of his symptoms.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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