The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative lumbar spine disease and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records from SSA.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported worsening symptoms since his last VA examination, necessitating a new evaluation. Additionally, there is an indication that the Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected disability, which requires further investigation.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative lumbar spine disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19159321
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 940 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19159321.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding higher ratings for degenerative lumbar spine disease, radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy in the left lower extremity. The appeal for TDIU was also dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating more than 10 percent for degenerative lumbar spine disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, effective March 16, 2011.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for his degenerative lumbar spine disease and knee conditions, and an initial compensable evaluation for his mood disorder. The claim for a TDIU effective date prior to June 17, 2009 was also addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.
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