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Remanded (sent back)

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 and L5-S1 is currently rated as 40 percent disabling since July 23, 2008. The issue of a higher evaluation remains pending.,Prior to December 21, 2015, the Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further review.

The deciding factor: The Veteran’s lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 and L5-S1 has been rated as 40 percent disabling since July 23, 2008. The issue of a higher evaluation remains pending.

Claimed conditions
lumbar degenerative disc and joint disease with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 and L5-S1, residuals of a right hip fracture with open reduction and internal fixation and arthritis
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
40%
Decision date
May 14, 2019
Citation
19137241

Veterans Law Judge

DEREK R. BROWN

Decisions by this judge: 1,987 · Granted: 15% (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 19137241.

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.

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