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 assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19165698
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 19165698.
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 Board denied service connection for the veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and right wrist condition as there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were related to his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for further development and examination. The issues involve evaluations for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and sciatic nerve radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU based on lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and related conditions, combined with the newly established service-connected depressive disorder, meets the criteria for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate as of April 20, 2006.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an initial compensable rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease to ensure a thorough and accurate medical examination is conducted.
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