The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated due to inadequate examination findings regarding flare-ups and range of motion during the period prior to October 1, 2010.
The deciding factor: The January 2019 VA examiner's opinion was deemed inadequate for rating purposes as it did not adequately address additional range of motion loss during flare-ups reported at the time of the December 2008 examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain, Osteoarthritis, Intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20047545
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20047545.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks higher initial ratings for his back disability, but the VA examinations from the period under review are inadequate. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain an opinion as to the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's back disability during the period under review.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.
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