The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in the June 2016 VA examination, which did not comply with relevant regulations and standards. The Veteran's disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but she contends that this rating does not reflect her current severity of symptoms.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner was unable to provide an adequate assessment due to the lack of range-of-motion testing during a flare-up or under weight-bearing conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine with spinal stenosis and thoracis scoliosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20005600
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.