The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his back disability prior to August 18, 2010 and a TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran is currently service-connected for DJD and DDD of the thoracolumbar spine with L4-S1 fusion, rated at 20 percent since June 1, 2009.
The deciding factor: The Board found that prior to making a determination on the TDIU claim, the Veteran's increased disability rating for service-connected low back claim must be fully developed due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DDD) and Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20042313
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 20042313.
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
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- Denied
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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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