The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional information regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and left elbow disabilities, including during flare-ups.
The deciding factor: The examination reports are lacking in required details as per recent court decisions, necessitating a new evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19188152
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 19188152.
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 remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, entitlement to TDIU, and special monthly compensation due to the need for additional development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal conditions and a psychiatric condition, all of which were determined to be caused by an in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, chest pain, breathing issues, numbness in the hands, and foot pain based on a continuity of symptomatology and presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.
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