The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine status post lumbar decompression and fusion L5-S1 is remanded due to the need for additional development including an examination.
The deciding factor: The current severity of the Veteran’s back disability needs to be assessed through a VA examination as there are no recent VA treatment records available.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine status post lumbar decompression and fusion L5-S1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19144155
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.
- Denied
The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, and spinal fusion of the lumbar spine was denied as the Veteran failed to attend a necessary VA examination without good cause shown.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this issue.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for appendectomy scar, a compensable evaluation for residuals of dislocated right ring finger, and service connection for degenerative joint disease secondary to the right ring finger disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability from December 2013 to January 2020.
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.