The Board has restored a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected chronic thoracolumbar spine strain from October 1, 2018. The case is remanded to determine an increased initial disability rating higher than 20% for the same condition.
The deciding factor: The reduction in the disability rating was not proper due to evidence indicating improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic thoracolumbar spine strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20013855
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 20013855.
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 an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected chronic thoracolumbar spine strain, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his chronic thoracolumbar spine strain evaluation is remanded for further review.
- Denied
The Veteran's chronic thoracolumbar spine strain and lumbosacral strain have been rated at 10 percent since September 2014. The most recent VA examination found the combined range of motion to be 234 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5237.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his chronic thoracolumbar spine strain is being remanded due to the need for a new medical examination or opinion.
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.