The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further action.
The deciding factor: The claims are inextricably intertwined, as the TDIU claim is part of the increased rating claim. The Veteran's appeal requires readjudication with consideration of all applicable orthopedic and neurological diagnostic codes and the evidence since the May 2016 SOC.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19165607
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 19165607.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability and for entitlement to TDIU due to the need for additional development and readjudication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected back disability contributed to his death and whether a heart disability was caused by medications used for his back condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine disability and neurological disorder of the right lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve are being remanded due to incomplete development.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from May 25, 2007. The issue of service connection for headaches secondary to low back disorder was reasonably raised by the record and referred to the AOJ.
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