The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to December 18, 2019 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left and right wrist disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.,The Board has remanded the issues of initial ratings for the Veteran's bilateral wrist osteoporosis.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability as there is no ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with incapacitating episodes. The Veteran’s forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was between 60 degrees and up to 90 degrees, which is within normal limits.,The evidence does not support a higher rating for the bilateral wrist disabilities as there is no ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine osteoporosis, left wrist osteoporosis, right wrist osteoporosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20038625
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 20038625.
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 has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability prior to June 14, 2011 and from June 14, 2011 to April 15, 2018. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for the low back disability beginning April 15, 2018 is also remanded. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability is being remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, as it was cumulative or redundant.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine osteoporosis.
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