The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral sprain/strain and melanoma status post surgery residual scar are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability and melanoma scar, as there has been a material worsening since his last examination approximately five years ago.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral sprain/strain, melanoma status post surgery residual scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19136390
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,454 · Granted: 23% (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 19136390.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and major depressive disorder (MDD), but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a right shoulder disability.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to service-connected disabilities other than traumatic brain injury (TBI) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbosacral sprain/strain disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 13, 2023, and denied for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 26, 2016 for service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal was found to be final due to lack of timely submission and new and material evidence.
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.