The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and ankylosing spondylitis status post laminectomy and fusion, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the severity and functional impact of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need to obtain further medical opinions to ensure substantial compliance with prior remand directives and proper development and adjudication.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), ankylosing spondylitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20058727
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 20058727.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, including retrolisthesis of L3 over L4 and ankylosing spondylitis (claimed as low back condition) has been dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's daughter seeks recognition as his child for purposes of entitlement to DIC benefits due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to the age of 18. The appellant submitted medical records and statements describing her disability, but VA did not provide an extension to obtain additional private treatment records. The Board finds this a procedural error and remands the case.
- Whole decision: Granted
The reduction in rating from 40 percent to 10 percent for lumbar spine IVDS effective from April 1, 2020 to February 3, 2021 was not proper and thus the claim is granted.,Entitlement to an increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher, effective from February 3, 2021, for radiculopathy of left lower extremity sciatic nerve is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than February 3, 2021 for service connection for radiculopathy of left lower extremity sciatic nerve is denied.,Entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of right lower extremity sciatic nerve is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis affecting his lumbar spine is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.
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