The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and initial evaluations for his lumbosacral spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional records. The claim for increased evaluation of his lumbosacral spine disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent on or after May 30, 2019, and his claim for psychiatric disorder remains pending due to incomplete records from SSA.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19165698
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,612 · Granted: 16% (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 19165698.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 13, 2020 for the service connection of low back disability and related radiculopathy issues. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted in January 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are granted effective May 12, 2025. The decision is based on the combination of his service-connected disabilities rendering him unemployable as of that date.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's diagnosed obesity and his service-connected disabilities.
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.